Environmental policy in the European Union and its neighbours has delivered substantial improvements to the state of the environment.
However, major environmental challenges remain which will have significant consequences for Europe if left unaddressed.
What differs in 2010, compared to previous EEA European environment
— State and outlook reports, is an enhanced understanding of the links between environmental challenges combined with unprecedented global megatrends. This has allowed a deeper appreciation of the human-made systemic risks and vulnerabilities which threaten ecosystem security, and insight into the shortcomings of governance.
The prospects for Europe’s environment are mixed but there are opportunities to make the environment more resilient to future risks and changes. These include unparalleled environmental information resources and technologies, ready-to-deploy resource accounting methods and a renewed commitment to the established principles of precaution and prevention, rectifying damage at source and polluter pays. These overarching findings are supported by the following 10 key messages:
• Continuing depletion of Europe’s stocks of natural capital and flows of ecosystem services
• Climate change
• Nature and biodiversity
• Natural resources and waste
• Environment, health and quality of life
• Links between the state of Europe’s environment and various global megatrends imply increasing systemic risks.
• The notion of dedicated management of natural capital and ecosystem services.
• Increased resource efficiency and security
• Implementing environmental policies and strengthening environmental governance will continue to provide benefits.
• Transformation towards a greener European economy will ensure the long-term environmental sustainability of Europe