Post on 07-Sep-2020
transcript
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