Fourth Environment State and Outlook report by EEA

The EEA released its fourth environment state and outlook report - SOER2010. This assessment shows that natural resources are being consumed at an accelerated rate increasing pressure in ecosystems, economies and social cohesion in the European Union.
However, there are some good news: the environmental policies developed in EU continue improving the environment without undermining its growth potential.
The report also states that all environmental resources (biodiversity, land, carbon, rivers, the seas and the air) need to be fully considered in production, consumption and global trade decisions.

There are no quick fixes but regulators, businesses and citizens need to work together and find innovative ways to use resources more efficiently. The seeds for future action exist: the task ahead is to help them take root and flourish.

Executive Director of the EEA

Key findings and recommendations

Climate change: The European Union has made progress in cutting emissions and expanding renewable energy. The EU-27's 2009 emissions stand 17 % below the 1990 level and therefore very close to the bloc’s target of cutting emissions 20 % by 2020. However, sectoral trends are not all positive. EU-27 emissions from transport rose by 24% between 1990 and 2008.
Climate change adaptation: Even if Europe meets all its emission reduction targets and world leaders agree on bold measures during the climate talks currently taking place in Cancun, Mexico, Europe will still need to adapt to ongoing and expected climate change impacts. Dedicated management of natural capital can help deal with these challenges.
Biodiversity, ecosystems and people’s health: The Natura 2000 network of protected areas, which now covers around 18 % of EU land, has helped protect endangered species and preserve green spaces for leisure. Air and water quality legislation has reduced pressure on biodiversity and people. On the other hand, intensification of land use, loss of habitats and overfishing prevented the EU from meeting its target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010.
Integrated solutions with a global perspective: By showing the many links between different challenges, environmental and others, SOER2010 encourages us to increase integrated actions across different policy areas dealing with these challenges, so as to deliver improvements quicker and maximise co-benefits (e.g. mitigate climate change and improve air quality at the same time).
Resource efficiency: Food, energy and water security are key drivers of land use as often conflicting demands increase (e.g. for food, feed and fuel). Accounting and pricing that takes full account of resource use impacts are essential for steering business and consumers towards enhanced resource efficiency.
Citizen involvement: Policy alone cannot halt or reverse environmental trends. We need to increase the number of citizens committed to reducing their impact on the environment by involving them in collecting data and through social media.

SOER2010 analysis for Portugal:
Air pollution: air quality is good except in some agglomerations in the north and centre regions, Lisbon and the Tagus valley. Most important pollutants are ozone and particles (PM10).
Climate change: Portugal is extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels and coastal erosion.
Nature protection and biodiversity: preservation of “montado” (traditionally grazed oak forests), the cereal steppes and the mountain “lameiros” (humid meadows) is essential to maintain the portuguese biodiversity. Desertification caused by water erosion and the degradation of water quality is a major threat. Portuguese ecosystems and agriculture are also particularly vulnerable to climate change due to the associated risks of fire and drought.
Land use: pressures created by increasing urban areas particularly in coastal zones; in rural areas major threats are the intensification of farming and forestry activity and abandonment.
Freshwater: an evaluation of the state of our river basins is being currently developed. This assessment will identify rivers that have poor ecological quality and define measures to increase it until 2015, according to the Water Framework Directive. Wastewater collection still needs to be improved.
Waste: Inadequate treatment or improper disposal of industrial, agricultural, domestic or medical waste are major threats.