Editorial

We live in a world of continuous change. How can we steer these on-going changes to achieve global sustainability by 2050? How can we strike a balance between the economy and the environment, the short-term and the long-term? The answer lies in how we manage the transition process without locking ourselves into unsustainable systems.

By Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director

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Air pollution: knowledge is essential for tackling it

"The positive news is that over the last decades, the situation has improved substantially in terms of exposure to several air pollutants. But these pollutants, where we achieved the most significant reductions are not the ones causing most harm to human health and the environment" says Valentin Foltescu.

Interview with Valentin Foltescu on what the EEA does on air quality and what the latest data says about air quality in Europe.

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Mix of energy crops - The mix for 2006–2008 vs the EEA scenario for environmentally compatible energy cropping in 2020

Indicator on climate change - Global and European temperature.

Natura 2000 data - the European network of protected sites.

Indicator on electric and electronic waste -- Data and assessment on reuse, recycling and collection.

Indicator on land take - How much natural and semi-natural land is taken for urban and other artificial development?

Climate and energy targets – EU largely on track but mixed picture across Member States

European Union Member States are showing mixed progress towards three climate and energy targets for 2020, even though the EU as a whole could reduce greenhouse gases emissions by 21% in 2020 with the set of national measures already adopted.

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Water: Charging full cost can encourage more efficient use

Flat-fee water charges are still common in parts of Europe. Such schemes, where users pay a fee regardless of the volume used, do not encourage efficient behaviour, either in households or agriculture.

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An overview of EU environment policy targets and objectives

European Union legislation has established more than 130 separate environmental targets and objectives to be met between 2010 and 2050. Together, these can provide useful milestones supporting Europe’s transition towards a ‘green economy’.

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Populations of grassland butterflies decline almost 50 % over two decades

Grassland butterflies have declined dramatically between 1990 and 2011. This has been caused by intensifying agriculture and a failure to properly manage grassland ecosystems.

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Urban sprawl eating into wildlife habitats in Europe

As cities expand into the countryside, the habitats of many animals and plants are reduced. Roads, railways, car parks and buildings also split up habitats, dividing wildlife populations into increasingly smaller groups.

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Improving the implementation of air quality legislation.

While air quality legislation has been in force for almost twenty years, not all the objectives have been met. In order to better implement EU air quality legislation, the European Commission and the European Environment Agency carried out a pilot project on air implementation, focusing on gaining a better understanding of what cities need. 

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11-22 November 2013 - Climate Change Conference COP19

The 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the 9th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol will take place in Warsaw, Poland. The EEA will take part in several side events.

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