Editorial

We need to change the way we produce goods and services. We need to ‘green’ our economy. But this does not consist of developing just a number of selected sectors, such as renewables, eco-innovation, corresponding to 5 or even 10 percent of our economy. It requires greening the entire economy. The question is: ‘How do we create a performing economy that creates jobs and ensures our well-being, and yet respects the limits of our planet?’

Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director

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Europe’s objective: recycle more waste and send less to landfills

"Waste is both a problem and a resource, depending on what we do with it. It is a problem because it can affect people’s health and the environment. Waste in landfills actually represents a substantial loss of materials, along with all the other inputs used in production and distribution" says Almut Reichel.

Interview with Almut Reichel on waste management in the EU and the EEA's work in this area.

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Air quality - Data update in European air quality database AirBase

Air indicators on emissions of heavy metals; persistent organic pollutants; sulphur dioxide; nitrogen oxides; ammonia; non-methane volatile organic compounds; and acidifying substances  

Waste and resource efficiency - Indicators on emission intensity of agricultural sector, households and manufacturing

Urban waste water treatment - Interactive map

Bathing water - Interactive map covering 2002-2012

Ammonium in rivers - WISE (Water Information System for Europe) interactive map

Industrial emissions - European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR) data covering updated data for 2007-2011

Ecosystems' exposure to acidification, eutrophication and ozone - Assessment based on EEA core set indicator

Climate change - Greenhouse gas emissions data relevant under the Europe 2020 Stategy (total EU GHG emissions and non-ETS national GHG emissions); Indicator on atmospheric GHG concentrations; indicator on Greenland ice sheet; indicator on F-gases

Summer ozone at harmful levels in 2013

Ground-level ozone exceeded legal limits in every Member State and at many individual measurement sites during summer 2013, according to the European Environment Agency's annual report on this harmful pollutant. Although the number of exceedances is high, they have decreased over recent decades, the report notes.

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New mapping method for 'green infrastructure', Europe's vital natural areas

Healthy natural areas often fulfil important yet unseen functions, from preventing floods to filtering air. A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) proposes a method for mapping this 'green infrastructure'.

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Mapping habitats to describe ecosystems

As technology has improved, so has our understanding of the environment. For example, satellite imagery and other remote sensing techniques can quickly show us that forest cover is increasing in Europe. But in order to capture the complexity of ecological conditions and dynamics on the ground, it is essential to also use field-based surveying methods.

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Europe's seas: A valuable asset that must be used sustainably

Many of Europe's marine species, habitats and ecosystems have been threatened for decades. As maritime economic activities are predicted to increase in coming years, a new briefing from the European Environment Agency (EEA) argues that the cumulative impact of human activity should be better managed to avoid irreversible damage to ecosystems.

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Bat populations recovering, according to largest ever European study

Bat numbers increased more than 40 % between 1993 and 2011, after declining for many years, according to a new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which considers the state of bat populations in a handful of countries across Europe.

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New Year, new focus: EEA priorities in 2014

The start of the year is often a time for new projects and change. At the European Environment Agency, 2014 marks the start of a new 5-year work programme and a new set of environmental policy priorities.

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CO2 emissions from new vans – revised data

In 2012, the average new van sold in the European Union emitted 180.2 g of carbon dioxide for every kilometre travelled, which is close to the 175 g CO2/km target to be gradually phased in between next year and 2017.

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A new app to help Europe monitor marine litter

Marine litter is a growing environmental and health concern. However, the composition, movement and origins of rubbish ending up in our seas and on beaches are still not widely understood. Reflecting on the need to fill data gaps as well as the aims of involving citizens in environmental issues such as marine litter, the European Environment Agency has developed the Marine LitterWatch (MLW).

Organised groups and members of the public can use this free app to upload data on the litter they find on their beach. This data will be used to better understand the problem of marine litter.

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10 May 2014 is the European clean-up day. Contact a coordinator to join the activities near you.

12-13 May 2014 - Copernicus Conference, Athens, Greece

The Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Space Agency, and the European Commission are jointly organising a conference on “Copernicus- Sentinels Serving Society and the Environment”, in Athens, Greece. The EEA will participate in several sessions.

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28 May 2014 - Open European Day 2014, Bonn, Germany

The one day long event will offer a lively and interactive city-to-city exchange on the topic of climate change adaptation. The event is structured around three core themes: vulnerability and risk assessments; the economics of adaptation; multilevel-governance cooperation and approaches. Organised by ICLEI, European Secretariat and the European Environment Agency, the event will kick off the 2014 Bonn Resilient Cities Conference (29–31 May).

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3-5 June 2014 - Green Week, Brussels, Belgium

The 2014 edition of Green Week, the biggest annual conference on European environment policy, will focus on Circular Economy, Resource Efficiency & Waste. The EEA will have a stand and will take part in several sessions. 

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