EEA Signals 2010 - Biodiversity, climate change and you

Change language
Publication Created 08 Mar 2010 Published 22 Mar 2010
1 min read
Note: new versions are available!
Cover Image
Signals takes us on a journey, following the course of water from the glaciers of the Alps to the permafrost of the Arctic and the delta of the Ganges. We travel to familiar and far-flung places, looking at how we can rebuild our relationships with the crucial elements of everyday life— water, soil, air — and the animals and plants that make up the tapestry of life on Earth.
Downloading: PDF document icon Signals2010-EN.pdf — PDF document, 5.32 MB (5581002 bytes)
Change language
Publication Created 08 Mar 2010 Published 22 Mar 2010
1 min read
Signals takes us on a journey, following the course of water from the glaciers of the Alps to the permafrost of the Arctic and the delta of the Ganges. We travel to familiar and far-flung places, looking at how we can rebuild our relationships with the crucial elements of everyday life— water, soil, air — and the animals and plants that make up the tapestry of life on Earth.

Download

  • Signals2010-EN.pdf [5.3 MB]
    • See additional files

    Additional Files

    Order information

    Order a printed copy online (EU-Bookshop).

    : 978-92-9213-070-1
    : TH-AP-10-001-EN-C
    : FREE
    See older versions.

    Related content

    News and articles

    Global and local: secure and affordable energy Global and local: secure and affordable energy Energy is a commodity traded in global markets. Lack of access to affordable energy sources, disruptions in energy flows, high import dependency and wild fluctuations in prices are all seen as potential weaknesses, impacting the economy and, consequently, the economic and social wellbeing of the communities affected. Can boosting the renewable energy capacity across Europe and the world change the rules of global energy politics? How does the EU’s Energy Union contribute?
    Driving to an electric future? Driving to an electric future? A quiet change is under way on European roads. The use of electric vehicles is projected to take off across Europe. It is a move that could help pave the way to a greener road transport system, but one that could pose challenges in meeting energy demand and investing in relevant infrastructure.
    Making clean renewable energy happen Making clean renewable energy happen Investing in clean energy must go hand in hand with energy efficiency and energy savings. Innovative solutions can fundamentally change the way we produce, store, transport and use energy. The transition from fossil fuels to renewable and clean energy might affect communities dependent on fossil fuels in the short run. With targeted policies and investments in new professional skills, clean energy can provide new economic opportunities.
    Interview — Growing food or fuel on our land? Interview — Growing food or fuel on our land? Only a decade ago, biofuel production from plants was hailed as an ecological alternative to fossil fuels. Recently, it has come to be seen as competing with food production and not always an effective solution in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases or air pollutants. We talked to Irini Maltsoglou, Natural Resources Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), about biofuel production and agriculture and if and how it can be done sustainably.
    Energy and climate change Energy and climate change Mitigating and adapting to climate change are key challenges of the 21st century. At the core of these challenges is the question of energy — more precisely, our overall energy consumption and our dependence on fossil fuels. To succeed in limiting global warming, the world urgently needs to use energy efficiently while embracing clean energy sources to make things move, heat up and cool down. The European Union policies play an important role in facilitating this energy transition.
    Shaping the future of energy in Europe: Clean, smart and renewable Shaping the future of energy in Europe: Clean, smart and renewable Our quality of life depends, among other things, on a reliable supply of energy at an affordable price. We use energy to heat and cool our homes, to cook and preserve our food, to travel and to build schools, hospitals and roads. We use machines to carry out numerous tasks, contributing to our wealth and wellbeing, and machines need energy. We still burn fossil fuels to obtain most of the energy we use. Moreover, we waste a substantial part of this energy before and during use.
    Energy in Europe — State of play Energy in Europe — State of play European countries consume less energy compared with 10 years ago, mainly due to energy efficiency gains. Europe also relies less on fossil fuels due to energy savings and the faster-than-expected uptake of renewable energy. In the decade 2005-2015, the share of renewables in the EU’s energy consumption nearly doubled, from 9 % to almost 17 %. Some sectors and countries are leading the way towards clean energy. Despite their declining share of the market, however, fossil fuels continue to be the dominant energy source in Europe.
    Interview — Energy efficiency benefits us all Interview — Energy efficiency benefits us all Potential gains from improving energy efficiency are substantial — not only in terms of saving energy and combating climate change, but also in terms of contributing to an array of other co-benefits, including improving human health and creating jobs. We asked Tim Farrell, Senior Advisor at the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency, what works best when it comes to boosting energy efficiency. He stressed that targeted policy measures and sufficient resources to support implementation and compliance are among a number of critical ingredients for success.
    From production to waste: the food system From production to waste: the food system We are using more and more of natural resources due to population growth, lifestyle changes and increasing personal consumption. To tackle our unsustainable consumption, we need to address the entire resource system, including production methods, demand patterns and supply chains. We take a closer look at food.
    The economy: resource efficient, green and circular The economy: resource efficient, green and circular Our well-being depends on using natural resources. We extract resources, and transform them into food, buildings, furniture, electronic devices, clothes, etc. Yet, our exploitation of resources outpaces the environment’s ability to regenerate them and provide for us. How can we ensure the long-term well-being of our society? Greening our economy can certainly help.
    Basics of economics and the environment Basics of economics and the environment In March 2014, Paris, France, was affected by a particulate matter episode. Private car use was highly restricted for days. On other side of the planet, a Chinese company was launching a new product: smog insurance for domestic travellers whose stay was ruined by poor air quality. So how much is clean air worth? Can economics help us reduce pollution? We take a closer look at basic economic concepts.
    From urban spaces to urban ecosystems From urban spaces to urban ecosystems
    Marine — biodiversity under pressure Marine — biodiversity under pressure
    Soil — The forgotten resource Soil — The forgotten resource
    A tapestry of life — Biodiversity: our life support 'eco-system' A tapestry of life — Biodiversity: our life support 'eco-system'
    Biodiversity, climate change and you Biodiversity, climate change and you EEA Signals 2010: stories about people and their environment

    Related infographics

    See also

    Signals 2017 Signals 2017
    Quiz Quiz
    Quiz - test your knowledge Quiz - test your knowledge
    Survey Survey
    Signals 2017 - online survey Signals 2017 - online survey
    Signals 2018 – Water is life Signals 2018 – Water is life Europe's rivers, lakes and seas are under pressure from pollution, over-exploitation and climate change. How can we ensure a sustainable use of this vital resource?
    Full report Full report
    Infographics Infographics
    Articles Articles
    Signals 2017 - Shaping the future of energy in Europe Signals 2017 - Shaping the future of energy in Europe
    Signals 2014 - Well-being and the environment Signals 2014 - Well-being and the environment
    Signals Signals The European Environment Agency (EEA) publishes Signals annually, providing a snapshot of issues of interest to the environmental debate and the wider public. Signals 2016 focuses on transport and mobility. Transport connects people, cultures, cities, countries and continents. It is one of the main pillars of the modern society and economy. At the same time, it is responsible for a quarter of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions, and causes air pollution, noise pollution and habitat fragmentation. Signals 2016 looks into how Europe's carbon-dependent transport sector can be turned into a clean and smart mobility system.
    One degree matters — Full documentary film One degree matters — Full documentary film 'One degree matters' follows social and business leaders as they travel to Greenland and experience for themselves the dramatic effects of the melting of the ice cap and come to understand the planetary effects of climate change and the impacts these will have on society and the economy. The film brings to the screen the latest science from the Arctic and shows why a further rise in global temperature of one degree matters for the future of humankind. Film had premiere: 13 December 2009 during COP15.
    Tim Farrell Tim Farrell
    Irini Maltsoglou Irini Maltsoglou
    Hans Bruyninckx EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx EEA Executive Director
    Istanbul Istanbul

    Permalinks

    Geographic coverage

    , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    Document Actions

    For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/signals-2010 or scan the QR code.

    PDF generated on 22 Oct 2018, 03:50 AM

    Google QR
    Subscriptions
    Sign up to receive our reports (print and/or electronic) and quarterly e-newsletter.
    Follow us
     
     
     
     
     
    European Environment Agency (EEA)
    Kongens Nytorv 6
    1050 Copenhagen K
    Denmark
    Phone: +45 3336 7100

    Engineered by: EEA Web Team

    Software version: EEA Plone KGS 18.10.13

    Software updated on 16 October 2018 17:45 from version 18.10.3

    Creative Commons Attribution License CMS login Site usage Software updates history Code for developers

    The European Environment Agency (EEA) is an agency of the European Union.
    Legal notice     EU flag