Photo shows coloured satellite view of Europe. This is a mosaic of several cloud-free images of parts of Europe taken by NOAA weather satellites. The colours approximate to natural tones and indicate different surface cover. The mosaic shows Europe in summer so very little snow is seen.

Source: GEOSPACE/Science Photo Library


The assessment of environmental conditions in Europe is presented in the following eight chapters, each adopting a different focus and perspective on the environment. The first four chapters concentrate on environmental media (air, water ­ inland and marine ­ and soil) and the next three on more integrated or functional environmental units (landscapes, nature and urban areas). Chapter 11 completes the picture with an assessment of human health.

Each chapter is presented in a form appropriate to the nature of the environment being considered, the type of issues of importance and the state of information about the subject.

Cross references to other chapters are used to reduce repetition but some overlap between chapters is unavoidable, and sometimes desirable, for a clear presentation. A proper understanding of the linkages between environmental 'compartments' and with human activities and the pressures they exert on the environment is key to developing appropriate and effective strategies to tackle environmental problems.