EEA Nwwsletter
Issue 2014/2, 16 June 2014
pict Your quarterly update on Europe's environment
pict Editorial | Interview | Indicators & data | EEA news | In the spotlight | Upcoming events
 

Editorial

 
 

EU policies deliver greenhouse gas emission reductions

The European Union has been reducing its greenhouse gas emissions since 1990. The EU has ‘over-achieved’ its Kyoto target for the period 2008–2012 and is projected to ‘over-achieve’ its 2020 targets. Can we reduce GHG emissions and have a strong economy at the same time? What was the impact of the recent recession on the EU’s GHG emissions? Does policy work?

By Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director

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  Interview  

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Preparing Europe’s cities for climate change impacts

'The impacts of climate change differ from one city to another. Some will experience more frequent and severe heat waves, while some will face growing water scarcity. Others will have more floods and intense rain episodes. Whatever the impacts they are facing, cities have to prepare and respond to them,' says Birgit Georgi.

Interview with Birgit Georgi on Europe's cities and the impacts of climate change.
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  Indicators & data updates  

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Water: Waterbase data updates on rivers, groundwater, water quantity, emissions to watertransitional, coastal and marine waters. Bathing water data and interactive map

 

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Climate change: EU greenhouse gas emissions data reported to UNFCCC and data viewer; EU Emissions Trading System data and data viewer; EEA indicator on GHG trends and projections; EEA indicator on seasonal river flow; EEA indicator on glaciers in Europe

 

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Air pollution: National Emissions Ceilings Directive data and data viewer; E-PRTR European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register reporting

 

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Biodiversity: EUNIS European Nature Information System data

 

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Soil: EEA indicator on progress in management of contaminated sites

 
 
  EEA news  

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EU reports lowest greenhouse gas emissions on record

The European Union's greenhouse gas emissions continued to fall in 2012, as a 1.3 % decrease cut emissions to 19.2 % below 1990 levels, according to official data from the European Environment Agency (EEA). This puts the EU within reach of its 20 % reduction target, with eight years to go until the 2020 deadline.
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Water quality excellent at most of Europe's bathing sites

The water at Europe's beaches, rivers and lakes was generally of high quality in 2013, with 95 % of these sites meeting minimum requirements. Coastal sites performed slightly better than inland bathing waters, the data shows.
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New vans more fuel efficient and cars meet CO2 targets two years ahead of the deadline

The average van sold in 2013 was around 4 % more efficient than the previous year, so the new vans fleet has already met the collective carbon emissions target ahead of the 2017 deadline. Read more

Cars sold in 2013 were 4 % more efficient than the year before, according to provisional data. In 2013 the European Union fleet already collectively met its legal target for 2015. Read more

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Reducing pollution in the southern Mediterranean

Countries bordering the south and east of the Mediterranean need to continually improve many aspects of environmental management to reduce pollution in the sea, according to a new assessment.
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Improving transparency in water services

The average European directly uses approximately 130 litres of water per day. Better access to data on water supply and treatment may help Europe use this precious resource more efficiently, according to a new report on water utilities.
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Soil contamination widespread in Europe

There are an estimated 340 000 contaminated pieces of land in Europe, most of which are yet to be identified, according to a new Europe-wide assessment.
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Finding Europe's quiet areas

At least 110 million people are adversely affected by noise from Europe’s busiest roads alone. People need to escape this pollution and access quiet places to work, relax and live a healthy life. Such ‘quiet areas’ should be protected under EU legislation, but how does this work in practice?
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Eleven countries exceed air pollutant emission limits

Air pollutants are still being emitted above legal limits in the EU. Recent data from the EU Member States shows that a number of countries continued to breach their emission ceilings in 2012.
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  In the spotlight  

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Signals 2014: Our well-being depends on a resource-efficient, circular economy

We need to reshape our production and consumption systems to enable us to produce the same amount of output with less resource, to re‑use, recover and recycle more, and to reduce the amount of waste we generate. Signals 2014 focuses on green economy, resource efficiency and circular economy.
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‘Environment & Me’ photo competition open for entries

A new competition from the European Environment Agency (EEA) invites both professional and amateur photographers to capture what the environment means to them. Participants can win cash prizes and their photographs may be used to communicate environmental issues in major EEA reports.
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  Upcoming events  

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16-20 June 2014 - Inspire Conference, Aalborg, Denmark

The Annual Inspire Conference (Infrastrastructure on Spatial Information in the European Community) brings together users,  technology developers, data providers and policy makers from across the European Union. The EEA is actively contributing to the overall programme, several sessions and the exhibition. Read more

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21-26 June 2014 - Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) 2014, Copenhagen, Denmark

ESOF brings together top researchers from all sciences; business leaders; senior EU and government officials; and international scientific media. The EEA will have a stand in the exhibition area and experts will take part in some events. Read more

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23-24 June 2014 - European Green Capital Awards

The shortlisted cities will present their vision, their potential to act as a role model to other cities, and their communication strategy to the jury in Copenhagen on 23 June 2014. The EEA is hosting and is part of the jury. The European Green Capital 2016 will be announced the next day at an official award ceremony. Read more

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