Accelerating the green transition

in a resource-challenged

continent

Dr. Hans Bruyninckx – EEA Executive Director

EEB Annual Conference

Brussels, 18 October 2013

The twin challenge

UNEP 2012 - GEO5‘good life’

Within environmental limits

Resource use

1980 1990 2000 2008 2010* 2020* 2030* 2040* 2050*0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

140.0

160.0

180.0

200.0

MetalsFossil fuelsMineralsBiomass

Note: *projection

SERI (2013): SERI Global Material Flows Database. 2013 Edition. Available at: www.materialflows.net

Decoupling – material use

SERI 2012

Material consumption

EU materials trade balance

EEA 2012

Transition needed to meet the targets

Living within ecological limits

Not about efficiency gains …

Copyright: Tesla

Or about technological innovation

Is Europe on track to a ‘green economy’?

EEA 2012: Environmental Indicator Report 2012

Resource efficiency

Greenhouse gas emissionsTransboundary air pollutionAir pollutionMaritime transport emissionsWater useDecoupling / recycling

Key:improvingstable / mixed progress deteriorating

Ecosystem resilience

Global climate changeMarine biodiversityAir quality in urban areasTerrestrial biodiversityWater statusEcological footprint

Main challenges

Connecting the 2020/30 policies to 2050 vision

More effective global action Transition of fundamental socio-

technical systems Changing the message and the

discourse …