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Green Plans in Action: European Union: Challenges
Energy Security
A modern economy and society cannot function without a reliable energy supply. The EU clearly sees energy supply, security, and climate change as interrelated issues. The need for this integrated approach is endorsed by the European Heads of State. Two recent Green Papers seek to balance these different interests, along with energy efficiency. A number of options have been listed to save 20% of energy consumption by 2020 in a cost effective way through changes in consumer behavior and energy efficient technologies. These savings would allow the EU to save an estimated €60 billion on its energy bill, helping Europe achieve two fundamental goals of the Lisbon Strategy: creating more growth and better jobs, besides supporting the Kyoto commitments. (More...#1) Global energy demand is growing, and rising oil prices have confirmed the EU's need to diversify its sources of energy and the geographical locations from which they obtain their energy. Russia is the biggest outside supplier of oil and gas to the EU; Russia sales to the EU of gas alone account for about 8% of Russian GDO and the EU gets about 24% of its gas from Russia. EU officials say relations with Russia take center stage and they will continue to depend on each other for the foreseeable future. (More...#2) Nuclear power contributes about 32% of energy to electricity generation, and lobbyists say the EU should take steps to increase its share to 40%. While the nuclear industry argues that nuclear power is the energy of the future, environmentalists disagree with the financial support from Euratom for an expensive and dangerous energy source, when more than 60% of Europeans want to decrease nuclear's contribution to energy generation. (More...#3)
Ambient Air Quality
Throughout Europe there are many hotspots where air quality standards are not met. The European Environment Agency concluded in the Third State and Outlook Report of 2005 that despite decades of environmental policies, unsustainable development of some key economic sectors is a major barrier to further improvements in ozone air pollution. The sectors requiring a reverse in unsustainable trends include energy, agriculture, and transport. (More...#1) In October 2006, European Environment Ministers reached political agreement on a new directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe. The major new element in the directive is the introduction of a binding limit value (25 mg/m3) on airborne concentrations of harmful fine dust particles, known as PM2.5, which contributes to the premature death of around 350,000 people in the EU each year. Member states should implement this limit value no later than 2015. (More...#2) In addition, sufficient emission control measures at the local, national, and Community level must be made in order to support the implementation of the Air Quality Directive and the attainment of the air quality objectives. (More...#3)
Emissions Trading Permits
Since 2005, industrial plants in the EU are benefiting by the flexibility that comes from tradable emissions permits; however, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) has been operating for a relatively short time, and adjustments must be made to curtail short-term issues. The first round of National Allocation Plans (NAPs) covering 2005-2007 trading period includes surveys to all stakeholders on the effectiveness of the Plan. Currently many companies are still too unfamiliar with the trading instrument to fully make use of its benefits. A regulatory gap exists between the competencies of national regulators with a need to build an EU-wide market by integrating well-functioning regional markets. (More...#1) More effective use of the existing infrastructure and easier implementation are expected in the second trading period of NAPs for 2008-2012. The more certainty and lead-time companies have, the easier it is to invest in right technologies for the future. Companies want longer-term certainty and predictability about the scheme and in particular allocation of emission allowances. It has been suggested investment confidence will increase should the allocation periods be extended from five to ten years post-2012. Industry is concerned the EU ETS has put them at a competitive disadvantage at the international level. Environmental groups disapprove of the Kyoto flexible mechanisms (More...#2) are undermining the pledge for emission cuts in the EU.
Population Growth by Migration and Long Life
Through the late 1980s, population increase in the EU-15 was mainly due to foreign migration. In the early 1990s, migration increase was mainly due to a massive arrival of refugees. In January 2007 the EU population jumped nearly 30 million overnight to 490+ million with the new accession of Bulgaria and Romania. According to Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, in January 2006, 462 million people were living in the EU, with expected increases in the long run to reach 470.1 million in 2025 (with the exclusion of Bulgaria and Romania) entirely due to migration. Growing pressures on existing public finances will create a need for policy challenges. Social welfare systems and labor markets will need to reform to meet the most critical challenge - to extend working lives. (More...)
Uncontrolled Coastal Erosion
Europe's coast is eroding naturally, but human activities are accelerating erosion through rapid development and urbanization. To meet this challenge, the European Commission operated a Demonstration Program on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) from 1996-1999 to provide information and stimulate a broad debate. A Recommendation for ICZM was adopted by the Council and Parliament in May 2002 with Member States developing national strategies by Spring 2006. In June of 2006 the Green Paper on Maritime Policy was released giving the public one year to provide input toward a future Maritime Policy. (More...)
Agricultural Reform
Food scares in the 1990s from mad cow disease, dioxins chicken feed and milk, and artificial hormones in meat were a reflection of intensive farming practices led to the introduction of a series of reforms. The most radical reform shifted from subsidizing farmers for production to direct payments resulting in a drop to 36% of the EU budget, and more fair world trade. There is ongoing policy debate about the reform needs in relation to the Global Trade negotiations. The increase in research of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has led to their inclusion in 'organically' farmed products. Standards for labeling organic products allow them to contain up to 0.9% of "adventitious or technically unavoidable" GMO content. Some green groups say the laws are lax and will lead to wide contamination of organic products by GMOs. The EU is committed to preserving the organic farming sector and in 2008, the Commission will review national 'co-existence' rules aimed at containing commercially-grown GM crops, and further assess the need for an EU-wide law. (More...)
Technology
Technology is increasing in use by all areas of industry. In particular, the use of nanotechnology is rising in sectors such as healthcare, consumer products, information technology and the environment. The potential exposure risks associated with nanomaterials are relatively unknown. The EU's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENHIR) has concluded that the examination of nanotechnology needs improvement. The Commission has included nanotechnologies in their action for Europe 2005-2009, and there will also be opportunities for improvement of their regulation in the next Reach, set to take place in 2012. (More...)
Watershed Conservation
The Danube River has recently been named as one of the world's ten most at-risk rivers, concluding that the region is threatened as a result of dams, pollution and climate change. Watersheds are an imperative part of the ecosystem, both environmentally and anthropologically. They support millions of organisms and supply populations with fresh water. The Danube is the only European River listed as one of the ten, with mainly Asian rivers dominating the list. Since the beginning of the 19th century, more than 80% of the original floodplain along the Danube and its main tributaries has been lost. Corresponding with Europe's strict freshwater-quality standards, the EU water framework directive (2000) aims to achieve "good ecological status" for all of Europe's rivers by 2015. Wetlands continue to be at risk with the implementation of, for example, transportation projects. In efforts to increase awareness, a new web-based information service on water, the Water Information System for Europe (WISE), will be implemented. (More...)
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