Clean Water at Majority of EU Holiday Destinations

92.1 % of bathing waters in the European Union now meet the minimum water quality standards set by the Bathing Water Directive. The results are from the latest annual Bathing Water Report of European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission, which describes water quality in more than 22,000 bathing sites at beaches, rivers and lakes … Read more

Europe's Future Depends on Cities Resilient to Climate Change

Most of Europe’s wealth is generated in cities, and urban areas are particularly at risk due to climate change. Europe should seize the opportunity of improving quality of life while adapting to climate change in cities, according to a report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). The report also warns that delaying adaptation will be … Read more

Increase in Cancers and Fertility Problems May be Caused by Household Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals

Chemicals which disrupt the hormone system – also known as ‘endocrine disrupting chemicals’ (EDCs) – may be behind significant increases in cancers, diabetes and obesity, falling fertility, and an increased number of neurological development problems in both humans and animals, according to a review of recent scientific literature commissioned by the European Environment Agency (EEA). … Read more

Recession and Renewables Cut Greenhouse Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions decreased very sharply in 2009, by 7.1% in the EU-27 and 6.9% in the EU-15. These most recent results, compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA), confirm estimates made by the EEA last year. This decrease was largely the result of the economic recession of 2009, but also sustained strong growth in … Read more

Fully Integrated Approach Needed to Make Europe a Resource Efficient Green Economy

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 … Read more

Transition to a Green European Economy Offers Substantial Benefits

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has launched its fourth Environment State and Outlook report (SOER 2010). This report provides an overview of the state of Europe’s environment, how and why it is changing, and what we are doing about it. The Environmental Protection Agency provided Ireland’s input into the SOER 2010 analysis through the EPA’s … Read more

Deep Emission Cuts Give the EU a Head Start Under Kyoto Protocol

A new report by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that large drop in emissions seen in 2008 and 2009 gives the EU-15 a head start to reach and even overachieve its 8% reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol. Austria, Denmark and Italy, however, need to step up their current efforts until 2012 to ensure … Read more

EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions More than Half Way to the ‘20 % target by 2020’

The European Union’s greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory report, compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA), shows that emissions have not only continued their downward trend in 2008, but have also picked up pace. The EU-27’s emissions stood 11.3% below their 1990 levels, while EU-15 achieved a reduction of 6.9% compared to Kyoto base-year levels. “The … Read more