Environment Guides

Action Plan for the Atlantic Ocean area by EUbusiness — last modified 13 May 2013, 22:41 CET

The European Commission has adopted an Action Plan to revitalise the marine and maritime economy in the Atlantic Ocean Area. The Action Plan follows from the Atlantic Strategy the Commission adopted in 2011. It aims to show how the EU's Atlantic Member States, their regions and the Commission can help create sustainable growth in coastal regions and drive forward the "blue economy", which has the potential to provide 7 million jobs in Europe by 2020. At the same time, the environmental and ecological stability of the Atlantic Ocean must be preserved.

New EU rules for safer and more environmental lorries by EUbusiness — last modified 15 April 2013, 16:46 CET

The European Commission has proposed new rules to allow manufacturers to develop more aerodynamic lorries which will reduce fuel consumption by 7-10%, cut emissions of greenhouse gases, and also enhance the safety of vulnerable road users. The proposal will allow cabins with a rounded shape and for the use of aerodynamic flaps at the back the trailer. These measures will considerably improve the aerodynamics of vehicles, saving approximately € 5,000 per year in fuel costs for a typical long-distance lorry covering 100,000 km. This represents a 7–10% cut in greenhouse gas emissions (or 7.8 tonnes of CO2 for the same long-distance lorry covering 100,000 km). At the same time, the field of vision of the driver will be improved, helping to save the lives of 300 to 500 vulnerable road users such as pedestrians or cyclists every year.

Disclosure requirements for the extractive industry and loggers of primary forests by EUbusiness — last modified 10 April 2013, 00:14 CET

EU Parliament and Council legislators have agreed a deal on the disclosure requirements for the extractive and forestry industries. The anti-corruption deal aims to force big mining companies to make public the payments they make to governments where they operate.

Green Paper on a 2030 framework for climate and energy policies by EUbusiness — last modified 27 March 2013, 15:30 CET

The European Commission has taken the first step towards developing a 2030 framework for EU climate change and energy policies. It has adopted a Green Paper which launches a public consultation on the content of the 2030 framework. The Commission also published a Consultative Communication on the future of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Europe, aimed at initiating a debate on the options available to ensure its timely development. Finally, the Commission adopted a report assessing Member States' progress towards their 2020 renewable energy targets and reports on the sustainability of biofuels and bioliquids consumed in the EU.

Proposed Directive on Maritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Management by EUbusiness — last modified 13 March 2013, 22:50 CET

The Commission has launched a proposal to improve the planning of maritime activities at sea and the management of coastal areas. The proposal - which takes the form of a draft directive - aims to establish a common European framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management in EU Member States, with a view to ensuring that the growth of maritime and coastal activities and the use of resources at sea and on coasts remain sustainable.

New timber regulation in force by EUbusiness — last modified 01 March 2013, 23:06 CET

On 3 March, new legislation comes into effect to counter the trade in illegal timber. The new EU Timber regulation will affect everyone in the wood trade. It prohibits the placing of illegally harvested timber on the European market in an effort to tackle the problem of illegal logging across the world. Illegal logging has severe economic, environmental and social impacts: it is associated with deforestation and climate change, it can undermine the efforts and livelihoods of legitimate operators, and it can also contribute to conflicts over land and resources.

Promoting energy efficient vehicles - financial incentives by EUbusiness — last modified 28 February 2013, 17:16 CET

The European Commission has published new guidelines on how EU Member States should use financial incentives to best increase demand for low CO2 emission vehicles.

Political agreement on offshore legislation by EUbusiness — last modified 21 February 2013, 20:51 CET

The European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on a Commission legislative proposal on the safety of oil and gas operations in the EU. It was in the aftermath of the "Deepwater Horizon" accident in the US Gulf of Mexico in May 2010 that the Commission reviewed the existing Member States' safety frameworks for offshore operations and proposed new legislation to guarantee that world's highest safety, health and environmental standards apply everywhere in the EU. The European Parliament and Council are expected to formally approve the legislation in the coming months.

Blueprint to safeguard Europe's waters by EUbusiness — last modified 15 November 2012, 13:35 CET

The European Commission has launched a Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources, a strategy for ensuring that enough good quality water is available to meet the needs of people, the economy and the environment.

Options to reform the European carbon market by EUbusiness — last modified 14 November 2012, 19:05 CET

The European Commission is taking two important steps to address the growing supply-demand imbalance of emission allowances in the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS). As an immediate first step to address the rapid build-up of the surplus of emissions allowances, the Commission made a formal proposal to revise the auction time profile and delay ("back-load") the auctioning of 900 million allowances in the third phase of the EU ETS starting next year. The Commission also on 14 November adopted a report on the state of the European carbon market which sets out a range of possible structural measures that can be taken to tackle the surplus. The surplus of emission allowances has primarily built up because the economic crisis has reduced industrial emissions of greenhouse gases by more than anticipated, leading in turn to lower demand for allowances from businesses. The surplus is expected to continue in the third phase of the system, which will run from 2013 to 2020.

Action plan for the EU automotive industry in 2020 by EUbusiness — last modified 08 November 2012, 14:25 CET

The action plan presented by the European Commission on 8 November aims to help strengthening the EU's automotive industry between now and 2020. It builds on the vision for industry competitiveness and sustainability in 2020 and recommendations how to achieve this vision contained in CARS 21 Final Report. The Commission is proposing concrete actions to be taken on issues of emissions, research financing, electro-mobility, road safety, new skills, smart regulation, trade negotiations and international harmonization. The action plan, which comes at a time when the automotive industry is facing particular pressure due to a strong decline of the EU market and structural over-capacity, includes concrete actions to help tackling these difficulties.

Commission proposal to reduce emissions of climate-warming fluorinated gases by EUbusiness — last modified 07 November 2012, 19:26 CET

The European Commission took an important step towards long-term climate objectives on 6 November by presenting a proposal to significantly reduce emissions of fluorinated gases (F-gases). Emissions of F-gases, which have a warming effect up to 23,000 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, have risen by 60% since 1990, while all other greenhouse gases have been reduced. The proposed Regulation aims to reduce F-gas emissions by two-thirds of today's levels by 2030. It also bans the use of F-gases in some new equipment, such as household fridges, where viable more climate-friendly alternatives are readily available. F-gases are commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning, as well as in electrical equipment, insulation foams, aerosol sprays and fire extinguishers. They leak into the atmosphere from production plants, from appliances they are used in, and when such appliances are thrown away.

20 years of LIFE and nature protection by EUbusiness — last modified 23 October 2012, 17:37 CET

A double celebration in Genk, Belgium has marked the 20th birthday of two keystones of EU environmental policy. It is twenty years since the EU adopted the Habitats Directive, one of the two building blocks of Natura 2000, Europe's network of protected areas. LIFE, the EU funding instrument for the environment, is also celebrating 20 years.

Inland waterways and nature protection: new guidelines by EUbusiness — last modified 18 October 2012, 14:06 CET

The European Commission is issuing new guidelines on inland navigation and nature protection to assist this important sector in applying EU environmental legislation. The guidelines - "Inland waterway transport and Natura 2000 - sustainable inland waterway development and management in the context of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives" - explain how best to ensure that activities related to inland navigation are compatible with EU environmental policy in general and nature legislation in particular. The document also emphasizes the significance of the inland navigation for securing long-term sustainability of EU transport network and highlights the achievements of this sector in integrating nature protection into its activities to date.

Commission proposal to minimise the climate impacts of biofuel production by EUbusiness — last modified 17 October 2012, 16:59 CET

The European Commission has published a proposal to limit global land conversion for biofuel production, and raise the climate benefits of biofuels used in the EU. The use of food-based biofuels to meet the 10% renewable energy target of the Renewable Energy Directive will be limited to 5%. This is to stimulate the development of alternative, so-called second generation biofuels from non-food feedstock, like waste or straw, which emit substantially less greenhouse gases than fossil fuels and do not directly interfere with global food production. For the first time, the estimated global land conversion impacts - Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) - will be considered when assessing the greenhouse gas performance of biofuels.

New Maritime Agenda by EUbusiness — last modified 09 October 2012, 13:51 CET

A European agenda for creating growth and jobs in the marine and maritime sectors was adopted on 8 October by European Ministers for maritime policy and the European Commission at a conference in Limassol organised by the Cypriot Presidency. Five years after the launch of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy, the Member States and the Commission reaffirmed that a dynamic and coordinated approach to maritime affairs enhances the development of the EU's 'Blue Economy' while ensuring the health of seas and oceans.

Many Europeans still exposed to harmful air pollutants - Air quality in Europe 2012 by EUbusiness — last modified 24 September 2012, 19:51 CET

Almost a third of Europe's city dwellers are exposed to excessive concentrations of airborne particulate matter (PM). Particulate matter is one of the most important pollutants in terms of harm to human health as it penetrates sensitive parts of the respiratory system. The EU has made progress over the past decades to reduce the air pollutants which cause acidification, but a new report published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that many parts of Europe have persistent problems with outdoor concentrations of PM and ground level ozone.

EU energy efficiency directive by EUbusiness — last modified 13 September 2012, 16:05 CET

Mandatory energy-saving measures, including renovating public buildings, energy-saving schemes for utilities, and energy audits for all large firms, will be required by an EU energy efficiency directive approved by the European Parliament in plenary on 11 September. It is estimated that cutting energy consumption by 20% could save the EU EUR 50 billion per year.

Marine Knowledge: digital seabed map of European waters by EUbusiness — last modified 29 August 2012, 19:35 CET

The oceans and seas that surround Europe offer new opportunities for growth and jobs to meet the Europe 2020 goals. To best tap this potential, there is a need to know more about what is happening under the sea. The European Commission is proposing to create a digital seabed map of European waters by 2020 by collecting all existing data into one coherent database accessible to everyone. In a Green Paper on "Marine Knowledge" adopted today the Commission launches a consultation as to how this could be achieved. It poses a number of questions such as "how can ongoing efforts in Member States be incorporated into a common EU effort?", "how can new cheaper observation technologies be developed?" and "how can the private sector contribute?"

Linking the Australian and European Union emissions trading systems by EUbusiness — last modified 28 August 2012, 12:03 CET

The Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Hon Greg Combet MP, and the European Commissioner for Climate Action, Ms Connie Hedegaard announced on 28 August that Australia and Europe will be linking their emissions trading systems. A full two-way link, by means of the mutual recognition of carbon units between the two cap and trade systems, is to commence no later than 1 July 2018. Under this arrangement, businesses will be allowed to use carbon units from the Australian emissions trading scheme or the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for compliance under either system.