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The European environment: State and outlook 2010
publication date: Jan 3, 2011
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released its fourth Environment State and Outlook report, SOER 2010, a comprehensive assessment of how and why Europe’s environment is changing, and what we are doing about it. SOER 2010 concludes that a fully integrated approach to transforming Europe to a resource-efficient green economy can not only result in a healthy environment, but also boost prosperity and social cohesion. The EEA's new assessment shows that global demands for natural resources to feed, clothe, house and transport people are accelerating. These mounting demands on natural capital are exerting increased pressure to ecosystems, economies and social cohesion in Europe and elsewhere. However, SOER 2010 confirms that well-designed environmental policies continue to improve Europe's environment without undermining Europe's growth potential. The report also highlights a greater understanding of the links between climate change, biodiversity, resource use and people’s health, and how tools like spatial planning, ecological tax reform, pollution prevention, precaution and resource accounting can underpin a natural capital-based approach to their management.
SOER 2010 consists of four key elements: (i) thematic assessments on key environmental issues (climate change, biodiversity, land use, air pollution, marine environment, consumption, etc.) each accompanied by relevant facts and trends, (ii) an assessment of global megatrends relevant for Europe’s environment, (iii) country assessments, and (iv) an integrated synthesis report. |
