EESC Hearing on the 7th EAP Some reflections based on SOER 2010

Thomas Henrichs – European Environment Agency

The European Environment Agency:

- is established by EEC regulation

- is an independent information provider

- is an analyst and assessor

- is building bridges between science and policy

- is dependent upon strong networks to carry out its work

… to support policy processes and inform the public

[1] The EEA assesses the state of, trends in and prospects for the environment in Europe (SOER 2010)

[2] SOER 2010 stresses a familiar message: there has been progress, but not enough.

‘Environmental policy has delivered substantial improvements […]

however, major environmental challenges remain which will have

significant consequences […] if left unaddressed. ’ – SOER 2010

‘What differs […] is an enhanced understanding of

the links between environmental challenges

combined with unprecedented global megatrends.

This has allowed a deeper appreciation of the

human-made systemic risks and […] insight into

the shortcomings of governance.’ – SOER 2010

Environmental issue EEA 38

- 10 yr trend?

EU 27 target / objective

- which?

EU 27

- on track?

Climate Change

Global mean temperature change ���� To limit increases to below 2°C globally ����

Greenhouse gas emissions ���� To reduce greenhouse gas emissions; by

20% by 2020

����

Energy efficiency ���� To reduce primary energy use; by 20% by

2020 vs. BAU

����

Renewable energy sources ���� To increase energy consumption from

renewables

����

Nature & Biodiversity

Pressure on ecosystems

(from air pollution)

���� Not to exceed critical loads of

eutrophying substances

����

Conservation status

(safeguard habitats & species)

���� To achieve favourable conservation

status …����

Biodiversity

(terrestrial and marine)

���� To reverse negative species abundance

trends

����

Soil degradation

(soil erosion)

? To prevent further soil degradation ?

[3] There are encouraging trends - but several environmental targets have not been achieved.

Environmental issue EEA 38

- 10 yr trend?

EU 27 target / objective

- which?

EU 27

- on track?

Natural resources and waste

Decoupling

(resource use from economic growth)

���� To decouple resource use from economic

growth

����

Waste generation ���� To substantially reduce waste generation ����

Waste management

(recycling)

���� Several recycling targets for different

specific waste streams

����

Water stress

(water exploitation)

���� To achieve good quantitative status of

water bodies

����

Environment and health

Water quality

(ecological and chemical status)

���� To achieve good ecological and chemical

status of water bodies

����

Water pollution

(point sources, bathing water quality)

���� To comply with bathing water quality,

urban waste water treatment

����

Transboundary air pollution (NOX,

NMVOC, SO2, NH

3, primary particles)

���� To limit emissions of acidifying,

eutrophying and ozone precursor poll.

����

Air quality in urban areas

(particulate matter and ozone)

���� To attain levels of air quality that do not

give rise to neg health impacts

����

[4] There are encouraging trends - but several environmental targets have not been achieved.

[5] Links between environmental challenges point towards increasing vulnerability to systemic risks.

Characterisation of

key challenges

Key features In the spotlight in Policy approach

example

Specific linear cause-effect

large(point) sources

often local

1970s / 1980s

(continuing today)

targeted policies and

single-issue

instruments

Diffuse cumulative causes

multiple sources

often regional

1980s / 1990s

(continuing today)

policy integration

and raising public

awareness

Systemic systemic causes

interlinked sources

often global

1990s / 2000s

(continuing today)

policy coherence and

other systemic

approaches

[6] Integrated management of natural capital and ecosystem services needed to address systemic risks.

Links between issues highlight

that how and where we use

natural capital and ecosystem

services matters.

[6] SOER 2010 highlights a selection of 11 global megatrends relevant for the European environment

Divergence in

population trends

Living in an urban

world

Risk of diseases

& new pandemics

Technological

change (eg. NBIC)

Continued

economic growth?

A multi-polar

world

Competition for

resources

Decreased stock

of natural capital

Consequences of

climate change

Increased

pollution load

Environmental

governance

?...

Others

[7] SOER 2010 reflects on future environmental priorities - four ‘i‘ - as areas for strategic action.

Implementation

Better implementation and

further strengthening of

current environmental

priorities

Integration

Coherent integration of

environmental consideration

across the many sectoral

policy domains

Inter-linkages

Dedicated management of

natural capital and ecosystem

services (increasing resource

efficiency and resilience)

International dimension

Transform to a green

economy to manage

natural capital sustainably

within Europe … and

beyond

[7] Further reflections on making strategy actionable: an additional four ‘i‘ offer tools and measures.

i3

investments

•Green technologies

•Infrastructure

•...i4

innovation

•Research & development

•Eco-innovations & -design

•Life-cycle approaches

•...

i1

instruments

•Precaution & Prevention

•Rectification at source

•Polluter pays

•...

i2

information

•Access to information

•SEIS (shared information)

•Environmental accounting

•...

[9] Managing natural capital and ecosystem services --improving resource efficiency and ensure resilience

Human well-being(social and human capital)

goal: enhance social equity and fair burden-sharing

Ecosystem(natural capital)

goal: ensureecological resilience

Economy(manufactured and

economic capital)

goal: improveresource efficiency

GREENECONOMY

[10] Where natural capital is limited, trade-offs between different ecosystem services and resource uses occur

Energy

resources

Human

Well-Being

&

Health

Food

resources

Water

resources

Material

resources

Global

&

European

EcosystemsManufactured and economic capital

(i.e. along resources life-cycle)

Social and human capital

Natural capital

(i.e. air, water, land, seas, biodiversity)

Capitals

Resource needs for consumption

(e.g. provisioning services)

Access and exposure to environment

(e.g. regulating and cultural services)

Links between resource uses

(e.g. water needed for food production)

Services

Thank you

For further information, please visit: www.eea.europa.eu/soer