Editorial

The European Green Deal

The EU has been a driving force in the fight against environment risks: global warming, water and air pollution, environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources. It has some of the world’s highest environmental standards, protecting nature and people’s quality of life, greening the economy, and achieving careful and considerate use of natural resources.

However, despite significant progress in recent decades and ambitious policies on the climate and circular economy, many trends are still going in the wrong direction. Problems like dramatic biodiversity loss, the unsustainable use of resources and rapid climate change are more of a threat than ever before.

Confronted with these challenges, Europeans are calling for urgent action to be taken. Some 95% think that protecting the environment is a priority, and 72% are calling for more action at EU level on environmental policy. The message from Europe’s voters, and those too young to vote, is loud and clear: they want action to address the climate emergency and want Europe to lead the way.

In record time – after only 11 days in office – the von der Leyen Commission adopted a Communication that was radically new. The European Green Deal aims to deliver a different kind of growth. For the first time in Europe’s history, the number one priority will be competitive sustainability for the future.

EU leaders immediately welcomed the plan, endorsing it at a European summit. Such swift recognition is a reflection of a simple truth. All around the EU, there is a growing realisation that it is time for a different approach. The Green Deal is Europe’s answer not just to these climate and environmental challenges, but also to the social challenges they bring. It is a strategy with justice and equality at its heart, pulling together all sectors of the EU economy, with people, prosperity and the planet to the fore. Whilst a long-term project, some of it will be put in place next year. We can look forward to a proposal for a just transition mechanism, a sustainable Europe investment plan, a proposal for a European climate law, and the Farm to Fork strategy, all in the space of the next 12 months. Three further elements will be particularly important for the environment portfolio. The new Circular Economy Action Plan should arrive in the first quarter of 2020, accompanying the EU industrial strategy. The plan will bring circularity to the mainstream, with the focus on construction, textiles, electronics and plastics. The aim is to transform these resource-intensive sectors into truly circular systems.

Going circular is not just about recycling – it is about using design to avoid waste and emissions before they actually happen. The new action plan therefore underlines the importance of good design, promoting sustainability and durability. It will also give consumers more power by ensuring that they have reliable information on products and services before they buy.

The new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 will follow shortly after, outlining the EU’s position for the 2020 UN Convention on Biological Diversity (cop 15) in Kunming, China, in October. The EU will be aiming to protect, restore and mainstream biodiversity, while presenting global targets to protect biodiversity as well as commitments to address the main causes of biodiversity loss in the EU, underpinned by measurable objectives.

The third part of the Green Deal involves moving towards the zero-pollution goal of a toxic-free environment. This should provide a set of measures to prevent and address pollution, obliging policymakers to live up to a central objective at the heart of the deal – Do No Harm. As a Commission, our ambitions have never been higher. But we cannot deliver this agenda on our own. This deal aims to bring substantial change, and delivering on it requires extensive buy-in from interest groups, governments and citizens from across the EU.

Our President has spoken of a new deal that brings together Europeans in all their diversity, with national,

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regional and local authorities, non-governmental organisations and industry working closely with the EU institutions and consultative bodies.

I know that the Green Spiders can be part of this deal. As communicators, they have been raising awareness about environmental issues in Member States for 25 years, in a way that speaks to Europeans in terms of their own language, culture and values. This has never been more important, and I am sure they will continue to play a vital role in building acceptance for the magnitude of change ahead. We have seen how environmental progress can be achieved when we all pull together, and this publication demonstrates the remarkable efforts going on across the EU to keep this progress going. I look forward to a level of close collaboration that can deliver the deal that Europeans deserve.

Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries cab-sinkevicius-contact@ec.europa.eu

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biorama magazine is published by Biorama GmbH, Wohllebengasse 16/6, A 1040 Wien/Vienna; www.biorama.eu | www.biorama.media (Project lead: Thomas Weber, weber@biorama.eu; Graphic Design: Selina Alge, Michael Mickl, CoverMontage: Michael Mickl (Istock.com/ edge69/LuckyStep48/Dina Mariani/pixomedesign/Enis Aksoy/justinroque)) GREEN SPI DER NE TWOR K SPECIAL ISSUE In cooperation with the European Commission.

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02 Editorial

Nature and Biodiversity 04 Gamtukai: Little Nature Lovers in the Making 06 Hungary’s Heavenly Classrooms 07 A Plan to Pollinate all of Ireland

Circular Economy and Plastic 08 Ditch the Plastic 10 Save the Seals 11 10 Cents for the Planet

Water 12 Baltic Research into underwater Noise 13 Why the Sea starts with you 14 How Water became active in Austria 15 Danube Day

Air 16 Ozonko & Ozonc�ica: Croatia’s green Superheroes 17 Malta’s Green Outreach 19 CleanAir @School