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Green Plans in Action: European Union: Challenges: Background
Energy Security
#1
Read about the Green Paper "A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive, and Secure Energy"
Read about the Green Paper "Doing More With Less"
#2
Russia needs huge investments to modify its pipelines and other infrastructure - technology that is abundantly available in the EU but not Russia, and Russia refuses to ratify an Energy Charter allowing Western investors safe access to the Russian energy market. The EU is looking for reliable alternative sources to Russia to lessen the impact of possible supply interruptions. The Caspian Sea basin is a promising source of gas, and Iran is second to Russia with proven gas reserves but its nuclear dispute with the UN precludes deals with the EU. Turkey is expected to emerge as a major transit hub, rivaling the Ukraine within 10 years, and Algeria could be another option. For now, EU officials say relations with Russia take center-stage and they will continue to depend on each other for the foreseeable future.
#3
For more information on Euratom
Ambient Air Qualty
#1
Ozone Directive 2002/3/EC calls for an information threshold value of 180 micro g/m3 with a long-term objective to protect human health through an ozone concentration of 120 micro g/m3 over 8 hours. Widespread frequency exceedances have continued to occur primarily in summers through Southern Europe, although target values have been exceeded in other large parts of Europe as well. The highest one-hour ozone concentration was in Portugal in 2005 (361 micro g/m3) with other high hourly ozone concentrations between 360 and 300 micro g/m3 levels in Greece, Italy, France, Romania, and Spain.
#2
The directive also sets national PM2.5 exposure reduction targets for the years 2010-20. In the most polluted areas the reduction target for the years 2010-2020 will be 20%; for areas where the air quality is better the target will be lower. The Directive allows a certain amount of flexibility related to the attainment of the limit values, where member states have taken all reasonable measures tot implement the Community legislation but are nevertheless unable to comply with air quality standards in certain places. Such derogations are limited to PM10 limit values, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and benzene, and they may only be granted under strict conditions for a limited period of time. Relating to PM10 limit values, there is the possibility for a 3 year extension time, for NO2 and benzene the extension period is five years.
#3
In the Council meeting, the Commission announced that it will propose new limit values for heavy duty vehicles (Euro 6) next year and that the Euro 6 limit values for passenger cars will be included in the Euro 5 directive currently under discussion in the Council and European Parliament. The Commission also promised to come up with other relevant legislative initiatives.
Emissions Trading Permits
#1
New interconnections and a more effective use of the existing infrastructure within Europe are essential to increase competition and liquidity and reduce market power and price volatility in national markets. More effective and transparent gas price information is needed to deliver the full advantages of market opening to customers, and a fully implemented and improved regulatory framework with cross border network standards for companies to comply with the requirements must be overseen by properly empowered independent regulators
#2
Environmentalists fear use of Kyoto flexible mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism and Joint Implementation, where companies carry out carbon reduction projects outside the EU that can be accounted for in their individual emissions reduction targets, will undermine the pledge for emission cuts within the EU.
Population Growth by Migration and Long Life
The role of migration in population developments is far less prominent in the 12 new EU member states, particularly in Eastern Europe where growth is largely determined by births and deaths. While Eurostat 2005 (Excluding Bulgaria and Romania) projections show that the total population of the EU-25 will only fall slightly by 2050, the age structure will change dramatically. By 2050 increasing life expectancy is predicted to grow by 5 to 7 years; the EU will have lost 48 million people of working age (15- to 64-year-olds) and will have gained 58 million pensioners (65 and over). This indicates three inactive persons for every four of working age in 2050. Slower growth will come at the same time as the extra costs on healthcare and pensions of the aging population start to peak.
For more on population growth and long life
Coastal Erosion
Between 1951 and 2001 coastline inhabitants doubled to 70 million people, with 16% of the 455 million citizens living in coastal municipalities. Between 1999-2002, 550 homes were abandoned as a result of imminent risk of erosion, with market value decreases to another 3,000 homes. As of 2004, a fifth of the enlarged EU 25's coastline was already severely affected, with coastlines retreating between 0.5 and 2 meters per year, and in a few dramatic cases by 15 meters. The result is loss of economic and ecological value, risk to human lives, destruction of natural sea defenses, and undermining of artificial sea defenses.
As of 2004 EU coastal erosion has led to:
Loss of land of ecological value: Out of 132,300 km2 (counted 500 meters inland from the coastline) that are under the direct influence of coastal erosion in the enlarged EU, 47,500 km2 are natural sites of high ecological value. This means they are rich in biodiversity and represent important ecosystems. Most of these sites are part of the EU's NATURA 2000 network of protected areas.
Loss of land of economic value: The estimate of the current total value of economic assets located within 500 meters of the EU's coastline, including beaches, agricultural land and industrial facilities, is €500 to €1,000 billion. Public expenditures to fight erosion are increasing. In 2001, they amounted to an estimated Û3.2 billion.
Loss of property: Every year, hundreds of coastal houses in the EU have to be abandoned or lose value because of an imminent risk of falling into, or being submerged by, the sea.
Risk to human lives: Over the past 50 years, the population living in coastal municipalities in the EU has more than doubled to 70 million people (16% of the EU25 population). They are increasingly exposed to the risk of erosion and flooding. During the worst sea surge recorded in modern European history, the North Sea Surge in 1953, more than 2,000 people lost their lives in England and the Netherlands.
Destruction of natural sea defenses: Erosion makes natural sea defenses, such as dune systems, vulnerable. In November 2001, part of the dunes on the Jurmala coast in the Gulf of Riga (Latvia) collapsed during a storm leading to flooding of the hinterland.
Undermining of artificial sea defenses: Potentially leading to flood risks as well. This is the case in Essex (UK) where erosion of protective salt marshes has resulted in frequent damage to traditional seawalls during storm events.
For more information on Maritime Affairs
Agricultural Reform
The six founding members of the EU developed the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in 1958. CAP took a large share of the EU budget, up to 70% at its peak. CAP provided a steady income for farmers by subsidizing surplus production and exporting surplus at a lower world market price. Other major exporting countries saw this competition as protectionist and unfair. Today, instead of financial support linked to production, it is now linked to farmers' individual needs, as well as environmental protection and recreational improvements, reforestation, biodiversity, and animal health and welfare standards. The number of people working the land has dropped from 20% to 7% as agriculture became more mechanized, and in 2006 rural development accounts for about 10% of the EU budget. The EU has agreed to eliminate export subsidies by 2013. Next steps include replacing different market organizations with a single common market organization, simplifying agriculture rules, and simplifying the process for farmers to qualify for support.
Technology
For more information on SCENHIR
Watershed Conservation
For more information on the EU Water Framework Directive
For more information on WWF reports
For more information on Inland Navigation Europe (INE)
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