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Environmental topics

- In our everyday life

- In media- In political discussions

Write everything

How can these be grouped?

Write l ines

A bit into the policiesEuropean frame

Show them the 9 topics

What do they mean? Where to place what they said

Discussion

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1. Climate changeDefinition: A long-term change in the earths climate, especially a change due to an

increase in the average temperature: Melting glaciers imply that life in the Arctic is

affected by climate change.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time. Temperature rise has been

linked to frequent flooding and extreme weather. Thus it is placed high on EU agenda to

mitigate greenhouse gas emissions - especially in the areas of transport, agriculture, and

companies emissions. To do thisit is important to increase energy efficiency. However, the

uncertainty about the effects of climate change is hampering the debate.

Important objectives

- To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 % of the 1990 level by 2020.

- Increasing the share of renewable energy by 20% by 2020

- To develop a carbon geological storage policy (how to capture CO2 emissions in a

more environmentally safe way).

2. Air QualityDefinition: A measurement of the pollutants in the air; a description of healthiness and

safety of the atmosphere.

In addition to the topic of climate change, the EU works with how the air quality in the Union

can be improved. This is due to peoples health as well as acidification: some greenhouse

gasses create a sour PH level in the rain that goes into the soil or ocean and this is

damaging organisms and further also the ecosystem. This latter problem has quite

successfully been improved the last 20 years.

Important objectives

- To reduce the number of deaths linked to air pollution by 40% of 2000 level by 2020.

- To achieve levels of air quality so that there is not significant negative impacts on

human health and the environment.

3. Industrial pollution

Definition: The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment.

The EU is very concerned with not compromising the free market competitiveness which

makes regulations in industrial pollution difficult. Moreover, our economic system is based on

growth. The union is therefore concerned with decreasing industrial pollution without creating

economic decline.

Important objectives

- To become a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy by 2020 with a set of policies

and actions towards a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy.

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4. Water and Marine

As 70% of the earth surface is seas and oceans and it produces of the oxygen we breathe.

Polluted water, regardless of pollution type, flows in one way or another back into our natural

surroundings. Thus the EU has a legislation called the Water Framework Directive that, for

instance, aims to prevent and reduce pollution and promote sustainable water usage. It ishighly appropriate to discuss this topic on an international level as many water areas such as

oceans and rivers are international and/or float across borders.

Overfishing leads to direct biodiversity loss

Important objectives

- The ultimate objective is to achieve good ecological and chemical status for all

Community waters by 2015.

- To achieve good environmental status in all marine waters of the union by 2020.

5. WasteMost of what we throw away is either burnt in incinerators, or dumped into landfill sites

(67%). But both these methods create environmental damage. Landfilling not only takes up

more and more valuable land space, it also causes air, water and soil pollution, discharging

carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) into the atmosphere and chemicals and pesticides

into the earth and groundwater. This, in turn, is harmful to human health, as well as to plants

and animals.

Some 3 billion tonnes of waste are produced in EU member states every year and the figures

are rising. The best is to prevent the production of waste by reproducing it. The amount of

waste a person produces must take into consideration everything from production to

consumption: when consuming a product there has normally been waste during production,

packaging and shipping as well as the waste when one gets rid of the product. The EU has a

legal framework aiming at the whole waste cycle focusing on recovery and recycling.

Important objectives

- To apply the following waste hierarchy: prevention, preparing for re-use, recycling,

other recovery, disposal (this is a 5 step hierarchy where other institutions have fewersteps).

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6. Resource useThe EU aims to reduce the burden on the environment from the production and consumption

of natural resources. This should be done at each stage of the resources life cycle: harvest,

use and disposal. They argue that the most effective way is to integrate this policy into non-

environmental policies that consume resources (e.g. transport and energy). There is,

however, problematic that there is a lack of knowledge about the use of resources as this

also makes objectives hard to make.

Important objectives

- No target figures have been set (should have been set by 2008)

- Research on environmental technologies shall be reinforced on this topic.

7. Chemicals

Policies regarding chemicals are often about classification, packaging and labelling ofchemicals in products. There are restrictions about the contents of for instance detergents.

Further, the policies involve international trade of chemicals and storage of for instance

mercury (quicksilver).

Important objectives

- Chemicals shall be used and produced in ways that lead to the minimisation of significantadverse effects on human health and the environment by 2020.

8. BiodiversityDespite policies to protect biodiversity there is still a degradation of biodiversity and most

ecosystems are seriously degraded. The EU has set targets for minimizing this degradation,

but full implementation of all existing legislations aimed to protect natural capital is needed to

reach these targets.

Important objectives

- To half the decline of biodiversity by 2010 (not met)

- To halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem service by 2020

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9. Noise

Noise above a certain threshold does not only have a negative effect on well-being, but also

health, according to the European Environment Agency. The EU had laid down a common

approach to tackle so-called noise pollution, and it is first step is based on mapping noise

and provide information to the public. Further the implementation of action plans can happen

at the local level. Especially noise sensitive areas such as schools and hospitals shall be

reviewed.

Important objectives

- Noise maps must be reviewed and, if necessary, revised, every five years.