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.

European Parliament puts energy efficiency at top of the agenda

The resolution A new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020 adopted by the European Parliament states energy efficiency should be a key part of the EU energy strategy 2011-2020.

Exploit better the EU's energy efficiency and renewable energy potential

[The European Parliament]
37. Takes the view that energy efficiency and energy savings should be key priorities of any future strategy, as they represent a cost-effective way of reducing EU energy dependency and combating climate change, contributing to job creation and economic competitiveness and counteracting the increase in energy tariffs and bills, thus reducing energy poverty; calls on the Commission and the Member States to put energy efficiency at the top of the EU agenda, and calls for the implementation of existing legislation to be stepped up and for the timely adoption by the Commission of an ambitious Energy Efficiency Action Plan; therefore believes that it should be implemented in a way that takes into account the efforts already made in some Member States;

40. Believes that energy efficiency and energy savings should also focus on the whole energy supply and demand chain, including transformation, transmission, distribution and supply, alongside industrial, household and transport consumption;

41. Supports the development of a properly functioning market for energy services and the introduction of further market mechanisms to improve the energy efficiency as a way of stimulating the competitiveness of the EU economy;

42. Believes, further, that more focus should be placed on the energy performance of energy-consuming products; encourages the Commission to implement the eco-design directive to the full, e.g. by including more products and applying a dynamic standard-setting model to ensure that ambitious targets are set and regularly updated;

43. Calls on the Commission to present an evaluation of the implementation of the existing legislation; considers that, if the evaluation reveals unsatisfactory implementation of the overall energy efficiency strategy and the EU is therefore projected not to reach its 2020 energy efficiency target, the EEAP should include a commitment by the Commission to propose further EU measures for Member States, such as individual energy efficiency targets which correspond to at least 20% energy savings at EU level in line with the EU2020 headline targets and which take into account relative starting positions and national circumstances, and the approval in advance of each Member State's national energy efficiency action plan; considers that such additional measures should be shown to be necessary, fair and measurable and to have an effective and direct impact on the implementation of national energy efficiency plans; calls on the Commission and the Member States to agree on a common methodology for measuring national energy efficiency targets and monitoring progress towards achieving those targets.

Reviewing existing and proposed emissions trading scheme

Reviewing existing and proposed emissions trading scheme is a new publication by the IEA that analysis emissions trading schemes in place and under consideration in 2010, focusing on the energy sector.
An emission trading scheme is very important to effectively tackle climate change. Without a greenhouse gas emissions price companies are not stimulated to take action.

China's commitments

The chinese government is committed to stick to the targets announced at last year's Copenhagen Climate Summit to cut the country's carbon intensity by 40 to 45 per cent by 2020 compared with 2005 levels.
A new plan for 2011 to 2015 pledges to make "progressive efforts" to establish a carbon market, work towards improving energy efficiency, and further develop low-carbon technology on an international basis.

Yesterday, the Gulbenkian Foundation promoted a talk with Christine Loh, the founder of Civic Exchange about China and the World. Special attention was given to environmental challenges, particularly air pollution. It is expected that by 2020 China will have 50% of the population living in cities and this creates great challenges. This talk was broadcasted online (but with cuts) and it may be available soon here.

More information: China unveils climate goals

A new climate deal in Cancun? Probably not

Starting on the 29th November, the climate change conference will be held in Cancun. A new climate deal for the period starting in 2013 is unlikely, but some agreements are possible, according to a UN official, on forestry, technology transfer and long-term financing to help governments tackle climate change issues.


More information: Cautious optimism ahead of climate summit

http://www.climatepolicytracker.eu

WWF and Ecofys launched a new tracking tool that shows that only a third of the necessary action needed today to put EU countries on a path towards a low carbon economy by 2050 (reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95%), is currently being undertaken.
It provides for the first time an up-to-date snapshot of greenhouse gas emission controls across the EU using a Member State-by-Member State and sector-by sector analysis.

“The Climate Policy Tracker is a powerful tool that measures the impact of policies and their effectiveness. It allows people to easily identify the policy sectors which need more attention and where action is most effective in reducing emissions. []
There are success stories in each country and policy makers should learn from best practices across Europe. Overall, however, the ratings are low. Support for renewable energy is most widely implemented across Europe and shows the most progress, whilst energy efficiency, transport and industry are lagging behind.”

Niklas Höhne, Director Energy and Climate Policy, Ecofys

Portugal is rated E in the climate policy tracker, along with other 14 member states, including Spain and the UK. Denmark, Germany, Ireland and Sweden are rated D.
Country Summary
Portugal made a significant effort to implement new policies to reach the Kyoto target, but significant gaps exist for the country to be on a low-carbon development path. Several good initiatives are planned but not yet implemented. Highlights are its support for renewable electricity and efficient appliances. If the positive policy-making trend continues, Portugal will rate significantly better next year.

Success Stories
Portugal has a well-designed feed-in tariff for RES and is about to reach the ambitious target of 45% of electricity consumed coming from RES. - Energy efficiency policies in industry, buildings and transportation are promising.

Areas that need improvements
Portugal made a significant effort to implement new policies to reach the Kyoto target but significant gaps exist to be on a low-carbon development path. - Although the support for RES electricity is well designed and is giving important results, important barriers, such as administrative bottlenecks and grid development need to be removed to reach the targets.

Evaluation per sector for Portugal

Green touchscreen

Green touchscreen is an online tool developed by Siemens to measure the energy efficiency of buildings, allowing to monitor energy consumption in real time.

Green touchscreen in Lx sustentável blog (in portuguese)