Ambiente para os europeus março de 2013 en by Planeta Terra

MARCH 2013

No 49

Environment for Europeans Magazine of the Directorate-General for the Environment

Living well, within the limits of our planet Environment

EDITORIAL

Environment for Europeans ec.europa.eu/environment/news/efe/index.htm

The Commission has set the scene for the Union’s environment policy until the end of the decade with the recent adoption of its new Environment Action Programme. Its title – Living well, within the limits of our planet – emphasises the importance being attached in the years ahead to enhancing Europe’s ecological resilience and transforming the EU into an inclusive and sustainable green economy. The Action Programme sets out three thematic objectives: to protect, conserve and enhance Europe’s natural capital; to promote a shift towards an economy that uses resources efficiently; and to build on the progress already made in delivering important health benefits for citizens. Achieving these goals will not depend on any major new legislative initiatives, unlike previous programmes, but will require proper implementation of what has already been agreed. The Commission would also like to see measures introduced that would encourage wider involvement by the private sector in expanding the market for environmental goods and services. While the Action Programme looks to the future, the EU is also delivering on the biological diversity commitments it made in Nagoya, Japan, two years ago. It continues to play an active international role as can be seen at the recent meeting in Hyderabad, India, where the EU and its Member States agreed to substantially increase financial, human and technical resources to implement the biodiversity strategic plan. The Commission is also taking steps to enshrine in European law the principles agreed in Nagoya that guarantee the rights of states with genetic resources within their jurisdiction, access to those resources by others and sharing of the ensuing benefits. As the recent Commission policy paper on marine litter demonstrates, environmental problems can also be tackled in ways that do not necessarily require legislation. Awareness raising, a stronger knowledge base and cooperation between the main players and policy makers can all make valuable contributions to preventing our seas and oceans becoming rubbish dumping grounds.

CONTENTS

03 04 05 06 08 09 10 12 13 14 15 16

Montreal Protocol: 25 years protecting the ozone layer Reducing motor vehicles’ CO2 emissions Minimising climate impact from biofuels Environment Action Programme to 2020 Phasing out environmentally damaging subsidies Clear rules on access to genetic resources Tackling marine litter Implementing international biodiversity commitments Generation Awake – One year on Where the water buffalo roam New publications / Agenda In brief

EDITORIAL INFORMATION Environment for Europeans is a quarterly magazine published by the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission. It is available in Bulgarian, Spanish, Czech, German, Estonian, Greek, English, French, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese and Romanian. Subscription is free. You can subscribe using the form inside the magazine or online at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/mailingregistration/ main/mailing_reg.cfm Editor-in-chief: Róbert Konrád Co-ordinator: Jonathan Murphy For more information, please contact the Communication Unit: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/contact/form_en.htm Information and documents: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/contact/form_en.htm Environment for Europeans website: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/news/efe/index.htm ENVIRONMENT ONLINE Do you want to know what the European Union is doing to protect the environment, what an integrated policy product is or how to qualify for an ‘Ecolabel’? Find out all this and more at DG Environment’s website: ec.europa.eu/environment/index_en.htm NOTICE Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on its behalf may be held responsible for the use to which information in this publication may be put, or for any errors which, despite careful preparation and checking, may appear. Printed on recycled paper that has been awarded the EU Ecolabel for graphic paper. (ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel) Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2013 ISSN 1563-4183 © European Union, 2013 © Cover: iStockphoto Reproduction of the text is permitted provided the source is acknowledged. Reproduction of the photographs is prohibited. Printed in Belgium

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MONTREAL PROTOCOL

Montreal Protocol: 25 years protecting the ozone layer Adopted in 1987, the Montreal Protocol has stimulated major progress in protecting the world’s ozone layer over the past quarter of a century. Its mission is not yet accomplished, but its successes and the way it has achieved them could provide valuable lessons to address other global challenges such as climate change. Climate change is today’s number one environmental treaty challenge. But 25 years ago, depletion of the ozone layer through increasing atmospheric concentrations of man-made chemicals and the dangers this posed to the planet caused greater alarm. The Montreal Protocol – the only environmental treaty ever to be universally ratified – has proved to be highly successful in healing the ozone layer. It has led to the phase out of 98 % of the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). ODS were used in common applications such as refrigeration, air conditioning and insulation. Providing the Protocol continues to be fully applied, the ozone layer should make a complete recovery, returning to pre-1980 levels by mid-century. The achievements have brought huge health benefits, helping to avoid millions of cases of fatal skin cancer and ailments such as eye cataracts. They have also contributed to the fight against climate change, avoiding emissions equivalent to over 135 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Challenges and lessons Despite this progress, the Montreal Protocol's work is far from complete. Governments need to ensure the existing restrictions are properly implemented and ODS in refrigerators, air conditioners and insulation foams still need to be properly eliminated through effective recovery and destruction. Vigilance will also be necessary to prevent any illegal trade in ODS.

The Montreal Protocol has led to the phase out of 98 % of the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances binding, not simply a series of political pledges. It contains a clear timetable of targets, many of which the EU has achieved ahead of schedule. These can also be adjusted to reflect the latest scientific knowledge. Finance has been made available to assist developing countries achieve their commitments. The Protocol also includes provisions that preclude parties from trading in ODS with countries that have not signed up to certain rules. These provisions help make it unattractive for countries to be free-riders and not participate in the joint effort.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) pose a new threat. They do not harm the ozone layer, but are potent greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. The European Union wants the Montreal Protocol expanded to cover their phase-down.

Not surprisingly, Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard says: ‘This has proven to be an effective approach that the world might also want to consider in the design of the new climate agreement.’

The experience and features of the Protocol could prove instructive for the future global climate treaty. The Protocol is legally

Find out more http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ozone/

Road transport contributes about one-fifth of the EU’s total emissions of carbon dioxide

CARS

Reducing motor vehicles’ CO2 emissions Motor vehicles are one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gases. The EU has already agreed mandatory targets for reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new vans and cars by 2020. Now, the Commission has put forward proposals setting out how these targets will be achieved. Road transport contributes about one-fifth of the EU’s total emissions of CO2, the main greenhouse gas. To reduce this, the EU has set binding emission targets for new car and van fleets. These must be met by 2020. They stipulate that new cars should not emit more than an average of 95 grammes of CO2 per kilometre by 2020 – 30 % below 2011 levels of 135.7g/km. For vans, the mandatory target is 147g by 2020, compared to the 181.4g emitted in 2010. In its latest proposal, the Commission defines how the targets should be met and the burden shared between different types of vehicles. It confirms that it is perfectly feasible to reach the 2020 targets. All manufacturers will be required to achieve the same level of reduction – 16 % in the case of vans and 27 % for cars. Greater flexibility will be given to small volume manufacturers and those producing fewer than 500 vans or cars per year will not have to meet the target. However, other manufacturers that fail to meet the new limits face a penalty of EUR 95 per g/km per car or van produced.

Wide-ranging benefits Overall, the CO2 reduction strategy will help protect the climate, boost innovation and competitiveness, create jobs and save consumers money as their fuel consumption diminishes. More specifically, it is estimated that the average car driver will save between EUR 3 000 and EUR 4 000 in fuel costs during the lifetime (13 years) of their vehicle. The equivalent savings for van owners range from EUR 3 300 to EUR 4 500. Nor is the more sophisticated technology expected to increase considerably the cost of the new vehicles. For cars, it may add EUR 1 100 to the purchase price and for vans some EUR 450. That extra cost should be recouped within five years from the fuel savings drivers will enjoy. On a wider scale, the proposals will prevent the emission up to 2030 of some 420 million tonnes of CO2, giving society net savings of between EUR 100 and EUR 200 for every tonne of CO2 avoided. The Commission will organise a consultation of stakeholders in 2013 to canvas views on post 2020 emission targets for new cars and vans. This is designed to continue the momentum to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles, while giving the motor industry the certainty it needs to carry out longterm investments and develop new technologies. Find out more http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport/vehicles/

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BIOFUELS

Minimising climate impact from biofuels Biofuels can contribute significantly to the EU’s 2020 targets for renewable energy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions from road fuels. However, to have a positive impact on climate change, biofuels must be produced sustainably, with minimum competition with food and feed production. To achieve this, the Commission has proposed measures to limit the amount of biofuels from food crops that can be counted towards the 2020 targets. Not all biofuels have the same impact on greenhouse gas emissions. The first generation now being produced comes from items such as sugar, cereals and vegetable oils. They compete directly with food and feed crops for agricultural land. This can lead to additional land conversion and subsequent release of emissions. If forests are cleared to make way for new farm land to compensate for the hectares given over to biofuel production, the end result may be greater greenhouse gas emissions than those previously emitted by fossil fuels. Second and third generation biofuels use feedstocks such as waste, algae or straw and so do not interfere with global food production. The Commission is now taking these knock-on effects, known as Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC), into account when proposing measures to promote advanced biofuels. As Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard explains: ‘Technically, ILUC is very complicated. Politically, it is very simple particularly when the World Bank highlights the problems of rising food prices.’

The Commission is looking to increase to 60 % the minimum greenhouse gas saving threshold that new installations using biofuels must achieve. This is designed to improve the efficiency of biofuel production processes and to discourage investment in plants with low greenhouse gas performance. The Commission is not proposing to close down first generation biofuel plants. But it is determined to send a clear signal that further growth in the sector must concentrate on advanced biofuels that are sustainable. It also believes that first generation biofuels should not receive any public support beyond 2020. Find out more http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/biofuels/ land_use_change_en.htm Video message by Commissioner Hedegaard http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/hedegaard/ multimedia/videos/2012-10-17_01_en.htm

Preventing biofuels competing for limited agricultural land

Commission proposal Under existing European legislation, renewable energy must account for 10 % in the transport sector by 2020 and the fuel used must reduce greenhouse gases by 6 % by the same date. Biofuels can make a significant contribution to both targets. To prevent escalating competition over limited agricultural land, the Commission is proposing to cap at 5 % the contribution food-based biofuels can make to the 10 % target. Additional incentives are also proposed for advanced biofuels that do not require any land for their production, which would be then counted four times. The Commission is also asking member states to include the emissions from indirect land use change when reporting the greenhouse gas emissions savings obtained from biofuels.

EAP

Environment Action Programme to 2020 Multiannual EU Environment Action Programmes (EAPs) have set the overall political framework for the EU’s environment policy since the 1970s. The European Commission has now presented its proposal for a new programme identifying nine priorities to guide policy making to the end of the decade.

The new programme aims to ensure that risks and opportunities are addressed through an effective, coherent approach. It acknowledges the severity of the economic crisis, while showing environment policy is part of the solution. The structural reforms now being implemented provide opportunities to move towards a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy.

The EU has delivered high levels of protection for the environment and human health, while benefitting the economy by stimulating job creation and the growth of eco-industries. We enjoy some of the world’s highest standards for drinking and bathing water; nearly one fifth of the EU landmass is protected territory; several of the 2020 climate goals are already within reach; and chemicals legislation is encouraging innovation and ensuring that the most dangerous substances are replaced with safer alternatives.

Aims

But significant challenges remain. Despite the success of Natura 2000, the continued loss of natural capital is posing problems, not least for industries that depend on it, such as agriculture and fisheries. Further efforts are needed to make the environment more resilient to current and future risks so the policy can make a strong contribution to the EU's agenda for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The programme proposes three thematic objectives to guide environmental policy up to 2020. The first is to protect, conserve and enhance the natural capital that underpins our economic prosperity and wellbeing. The second, as set out in the Resource-Efficient Europe flagship initiative, promotes a shift towards an economy that uses all its resources efficiently. This means fully implementing the climate and energy package, agreeing the next steps for climate policy beyond 2020, improving the environmental performance of products over their entire life cycle and reducing the environmental impact of consumption. The third builds on the progress the EU has already made in delivering important health benefits for its citizens, stepping up efforts to address air, noise and water pollution, improve the management of chemicals and prepare for the impact of climate change.

Means EAP: Living well, within the limits of our planet Nine priorities

The programme identifies four ways to reach the overall thematic objectives.

1. Protect, conserve and enhance the EU’s natural capital 2. Create a resource-efficient low-carbon EU economy 3. Protect EU citizens from environmental dangers to their health 4. Ensure proper implementation of EU environmental legislation 5. Improve the evidence base for environment policy 6. Secure investment for environment and climate policy and get the prices right 7. Integrate environmental considerations across all policy areas and strengthen policy coherence 8. Help Europe’s cities become more sustainable 9. Strengthen the EU’s effectiveness in tackling regional and global environmental challenges.

Special emphasis will be placed on ensuring that legislation already in place is properly implemented on the ground. In addition to environmental gains, this will bring three clear economic benefits. It will guarantee all economic operators are treated equally throughout the Union. It will stimulate innovation and give enterprising European companies ‘first mover advantage’. The Commission will be more active in helping national authorities fulfil their commitments in this area. Importance will continue to be attached to strengthening the evidence base that underpins environment policy. This is vital to evaluate potential risks that may be associated with rapid technological developments, such as nanomaterials, which can outpace policy.

By 2020 cities will be home to some 80 % of Europe’s citizens, and should be supported in their quest to lead the way towards a sustainable future

Adequate investment will be needed to finance many of these initiatives. Some will come from the EU budget where environment and climate objectives are being mainstreamed into all policy areas, and some from Member States.

determine the final shape and content of EU laws and are responsible for implementing them.

But a major role will lie with the private sector, which should be encouraged through measures to expand the market for environmental goods and services. Changes in national tax systems, such as phasing out environmentally harmful subsidies and providing funding and incentives for eco-innovation, are among the policies the programme recommends.

The programme points to the need for additional efforts on two very different levels: local and global. The first focuses on cities, which by 2020 will be home to some 80 % of Europe’s citizens, and should be supported in their quest to lead the way towards a sustainable future.

Ensuring that environmental considerations are fully taken on board in all other EU policy areas is the fourth of these ‘enabling mechanisms’. In theory, this has been a requirement for the past 15 years, but practice has not always delivered the desired results. While the Commission can help meet the challenge through comprehensive impact assessments of policy initiatives in different areas, the onus will be on Member States since they

Different dimensions

Globally, as the Rio+20 summit in June 2012 demonstrated, there is growing awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability and the economic and social potential of an inclusive green economy. The EU has always played a prominent role in international and regional efforts to tackle shared environmental problems and will continue to do so by meeting its own global commitments and helping others to meet theirs. Find out more http://ec.europa.eu/environment/newprg/

Subsidies that may have a negative impact on the environment are common in areas such as fossil fuels, transport and water

E N V I R O N M E N TA L LY H A R M F U L S U B S I D I E S

Phasing out environmentally damaging subsidies Environmentally harmful subsidies are mainly grants or tax reductions/exemptions that enable certain consumers, users or producers to supplement their incomes or reduce their costs, but have an overall negative effect on the wider environment. The EU is committed to phasing them out by 2020. Subsidies that may have a negative impact on the environment – known as environmentally harmful subsidies (EHS) – are common in areas such as fossil fuels, transport and water, and they are estimated to be worth USD 1 trillion worldwide. But while they appear to benefit industry or consumers, they actually lead to wasteful use of natural resources, harm our biodiversity, maintain inefficient practices and discourage innovation. The Commission is pushing for a reform of these subsidies by Member States in a process known as the European Semester. The EU is far from being alone in this focus on reforming subsidies: commitments have been adopted at the global level, in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the G20, for example, and existing pledges to reform such subsidies were reiterated at the Rio+20 Conference. But progress has been slow at EU and national levels. There have been some EU successes and recent proposals for reforming the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Common Fisheries Fund and the Cohesion Policy Funds make financing conditional on respecting environmental objectives. But nationally there is still a need to develop effective action plans, with clear targets and timelines, and a transparent system of reporting. This applies also to environmentally harmful subsidies through tax exemptions in Member States.

Gains In a world struggling with the financial and economic crisis, reforming these subsidies would be a smart move. According to OECD and Commission figures, removing fossil fuel subsidies in the 27 Member State budgets would bring in over EUR 25 billion. It would also lower greenhouse gas emissions and lessen pollution associated with fossil fuel use, leading to cleaner air and water. The Commission is determined to draw attention to the damage caused by these subsidies. It is marshalling well-founded economic and scientific arguments to justify why their abolition will promote resource efficiency and green growth. It is now armed with several studies that will facilitate proposals for reform and increase its acceptance, including more than 30 case studies and examples of reform that represent best practice. Econometric modelling work on the impact of environmental tax reform, such as the shift of taxation from labour to pollution and resource use, will be available in March 2013. The extent to which the message is striking home will become clear in the next European Semester exercise. This requires governments to explain to the Commission what measures they have taken to respond to specific fiscal reform recommendations to shift taxation from labour and to start phasing out EHS from 2012. Find out more http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enveco/taxation/pdf/ report_phasing_out_env_harmful_subsidies.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enveco/

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ACCESS AND BENEFITS

Clear rules on access to genetic resources In October 2010, the global community adopted the ‘Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization’. This new treaty, which is a Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity, sets out clear rights and obligations of states in relation to how genetic resources should be made available for research and development and how conditions for their use will be enforced. The Commission has now tabled draft legislation to implement the Nagoya Protocol. Genetic resources – the gene pool in both natural and cultivated stocks – play a significant and growing role in many economic sectors. They are used by researchers and companies in areas such as plant and animal breeding, cosmetics, food and pharmaceuticals. Over the past 30 years, 26 % of all new approved drugs are either natural products or derived from them. But the absence of clear international rules on access and benefit-sharing has led to complaints of ‘biopiracy’ – allegations that foreign researchers, mainly in the developed world, have at times ridden roughshod over the rights of countries, mainly in the developing world, in their pursuit of these precious resources. That breakdown in trust can restrict access to the valuable raw material. The Nagoya Protocol addresses these issues, confirming the rights of indigenous and local communities that hold traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources that could provide vital information for scientific discoveries.

Enshrining principles in law The draft EU legislation will bring benefits to users and providers of genetic resources. It will provide the latter with guarantees that their rights will not be violated and ensure the former reliable access to genetic resources at low cost and with high legal certainty. Under the proposed rules, European researchers and companies would have to ensure that genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge used by them were obtained in full compliance with the law of the country of origin and that the benefits of their research are fairly and equitably distributed. Users would exercise ‘due diligence’ by gathering basic information on the resources used, such as when and where they were obtained. They would also be obliged to act if available information would indicate the material was illegally acquired, used without a proper access permit or without a benefitsharing agreement in place. Users would face penalties if they cannot demonstrate this when inspected. The primary suppliers of genetic resources to EU users are collections such as seed banks and botanical gardens. To reduce costs and increase legal certainty, the Commission is proposing to set up a register of ‘EU trusted collections’, to allow users to be sure that their material already complies with a major part of the due diligence obligation. Find out more http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biodiversity/international/abs/

MARINE LITTER

Tackling marine litter Our seas and oceans are increasingly becoming the waste dump of the planet. Man-made litter is contaminating marine habitats and posing serious environmental, economic and health problems. A new Commission policy paper aims to raise awareness of the problem and to stimulate debate on ways to tackle it.

There are economic costs for the fishing industry, either through catches being contaminated by paint or oil or propellers being fouled by abandoned nets. Marine debris can also affect human health and safety either by contaminating food, degrading water quality or washing hazardous materials such as medical waste onto beaches.

Strong commitments to tackle problem Marine litter is the result of a wide range of land and sea-based activities and sources. That very diversity, along with insufficient knowledge and data of the many facets of the phenomenon, increases the complexity of finding appropriate responses. This litter can be plastic, metal, wood, rubber, glass or paper. It is estimated that some 15 % of marine debris floats on the sea surface, the same amount remains in the water column and 70 % rests on the seabed. Plastic is the most prominent and pernicious example. In some areas, it accounts for 80 % of the litter and can remain in the marine environment for possibly as long as hundreds of years. The environmental impact of this debris is considerable. Over 180 species of marine wildlife swallow micro pieces of plastic, believing it to be food, leading to internal injuries and possibly death. Many marine animals, including whales, seals, turtles and fish, are harmed and even killed when they become tangled in marine litter.

The Sustainable Development Conference in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012 agreed a firm pledge ‘to take action to, by 2025, based on collected scientific data, achieve significant reductions in marine debris to prevent harm to the coastal and marine environment’. The Commission is currently preparing proposals on the follow-up of the Rio Conference. This is in addition to the work on marine litter under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which requires Member States to develop and implement strategies to ensure all the EU’s marine regions and sub-regions achieve good environmental status by 2020. The Directive is also the environmental pillar of the Integrated Maritime Policy that looks to maximise sustainable use of the sea. By its nature, marine litter requires international action and the EU is working closely with its neighbours in the four conventions covering the Mediterranean, Baltic, North-East Atlantic and

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Black Sea. These help implement the UNEP Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities.

Way ahead Within the EU, a wide range of policies and measures addresses the source and impact of marine litter. They include legislation on waste management, urban wastewater and pollution from ships. Since 80 % of marine litter comes from the land, proper treatment of waste and better implementation of the measures on the statute book can make a major contribution to improving the quality of our seas. So too could changes in packaging practices, given the amount of plastic used.

Additional measures Alongside direct measures to reduce marine litter, initiatives are being taken to improve the knowledge base and increase awareness. These also bring together the main players such as policy makers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the science community and industry – all have a contribution to make since many stakeholders are responsible for the generation and distribution of waste.

The Commission is helping Member States to meet their obligations under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, particularly in their initial assessments and setting environmental targets. This should make it possible to develop an EU baseline in 2013 to have further reflections about an EU-wide reduction target. Member States need to put in place monitoring programmes by July 2014 and implement their marine strategies by 2015. The Commission will analyse these and make recommendations if national authorities are not taking adequate action. These many different strands of the anti-marine litter efforts are preparing the ground for a major conference in Germany in April 2013, which will provide Member States with examples of practical measures to tackle the phenomenon.

The Commission has launched three studies – expected to be concluded in early 2013 – to better understand the scale of the problem and its sources. Two examine the feasibility of introducing measures to prevent littering and the main loopholes in the flow of packaging material. The third contains case studies on the plastic cycle in Europe’s four regional seas. Funding from the Union’s 7th Research Framework Programme is helping to finance various projects including those in a programme called ‘The Ocean of Tomorrow’, which in 2012 focused on research gaps in the definition and monitoring of the good environment status of EU waters. The European Environment Agency is also preparing a report on the state of Europe’s coasts. This will include an assessment of the scale of marine litter at European and regional levels.

Over 180 species of marine wildlife swallow micro pieces of plastic, believing it to be food

In addition to reducing the input of plastic into our seas, efforts are needed to clean up the mess that already exists. The Commission is promoting various Fishing For Litter initiatives. As well as bringing practical benefits, these also spread the message to the public. An annual European Clean-up Day is also being considered. Find out more http://ec.europa.eu/environment/marine/

HYDERABAD

Implementing international biodiversity commitments Just over two years ago in Nagoya, Japan, the international community adopted an ambitious programme to protect biological diversity. Now, the emphasis is on turning the commitments into reality. Good progress towards achieving this was made in Hyderabad, India, in mid-October 2012. Hyderabad was the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, known as COP 11, following on from COP 10 in Nagoya, to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In productive sessions, it adopted 33 decisions on a range of strategic, substantive, financial and budgetary issues.

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More generally, that search for synergy will also be extended to the different biodiversity-related conventions after it was agreed that the United Nations Environment Programme should be given a prominent role in enhancing cooperation between them. Other decisions and discussions focused on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing (see separate article page 9) and on better conservation and more sustainable use of marine biodiversity, including through the identification of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas.

Next steps These include confirmation by the EU, its Member States and other CBD Parties to substantially increase total biodiversityrelated funding, against a baseline that reflects average annual biodiversity funding between 2006 and 2010. More specifically, Parties agreed to a preliminary target of doubling total biodiversity-related international financial resource flows to developing countries by 2015, and to at least maintain this level up to 2020. This was complemented by an agreement to use a preliminary reporting framework, and related targets on domestic funding, reporting, and the development of national financial plans. The meeting also took measures to ensure that parallel work under the UN Climate Change Convention, in particular its policy to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD+) does not undermine biodiversity targets. To ensure harmony between climate change and biodiversity objectives, COP 11 approved substantive advice on safeguards that must be respected when REDD+ activities are carried out.

When they next meet in South Korea in the second half of 2014 for COP 12, Parties to the UN Biodiversity Convention will consider the potential adoption of a final resource mobilisation target, possible principles and safeguards for the use of innovative financial mechanisms, and the removal, reform or phase-out of any incentives and subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity. The next COP meeting will also carry out a mid-term review of the progress made towards achieving the 20 headline targets for 2015 and 2020 set out in the CBDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity. Find out more www.cbd.int/cop11/ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/biodiversity/international/ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/

ÂŠ COP 11 to CBD

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GENERATION AWAKE CAMPAIGN

Generation Awake – One year on In October 2011, the Commission's Environment Directorate-General launched a pan-European campaign to show the difference that resource-efficient behaviour can make to people's lives and the economy. Under the slogan ‘Your choices make a world of difference’, the Generation Awake campaign has now reached millions of citizens. In 2012, the campaign switched its focus to efficient use of water.

A second phase of the campaign followed, raising awareness about the hidden water cost of many everyday items, with a new website, a series of animations illustrating the notion of indirect water consumption, Facebook activities and a video competition. Direct water use – cooking, washing and so forth – accounts for a mere 4 % of most individuals' water usage, so by targeting the 96 % of water hidden in consumption choices, the campaign aimed to raise awareness where it counted most.

‘Generation Awake’ aims to inform citizens that they can consume differently, with support and advice to help them preserve natural resources, save money, reduce impacts on the environment and make the future more sustainable. The campaign was launched in October 2011 with events in Member States, a multilingual website, Facebook fan page, viral video and online advertisements.

It's been a great success. The Facebook fan page currently has some 78 000 fans, making it one of the most successful Facebook pages run by, or for, the European Commission. The website has had more than a third of a million visits since its launch, while the dedicated water site has had over 100 000 visits in less than six months. The viral videos have been seen by almost 2.5 million people, and some 800 articles have appeared in the press since the launch of the campaign, which has also attracted around 500 tweets via micro-blog Twitter. The animations on hidden water use have proved popular, with more than 200 000 views in a matter of months.

Last year saw a tighter focus on water to coincide with the November launch of the Blueprint to Conserve Europe's Water Resources to guide EU water policy up until 2020. Water consumption and conservation were pushed to the fore, with a new section of the website showing how individual choices are key to ensuring that Europe enjoys an adequate supply of good quality water. A viral video starring ‘Water Maniac Walter’ was also launched. Walter – a blue bucket whom we meet talking to his therapist – is obsessed with saving water, and has numerous tips for consumers.

Looking to 2013 This year will see the focus shift to raising awareness about the environmental profile of products among European consumers, as the Commission continues its work highlighting the benefits of greener, more resource-efficient consumption. Find out more www.generationawake.eu/en www.imagineallthewater.eu/en www.facebook.com/GenerationAwake www.youtube.com/user/GenerationAwake

LIFE

Where the water buffalo roam The inland salt marshes in Brandenburg, near Berlin, Germany, are geological and botanical rarities. They provide a vital annual stopover for thousands of migrating birds, including waders, cranes and Nordic geese. The meadows are also a popular breeding site for the northern lapwing, common snipe and other endangered bird species. Changes in traditional agricultural practices are threatening the survival of these inland salt marshes. Intensified farming has altered hydrological conditions, causing salt imbalances, while the end of extensive grazing has led to areas of salt meadow becoming overgrown by shrubs and trees. To remedy the situation, the Brandenburg Federal State secured co-funding from the EU LIFE programme for the ‘Salzstellen Brandenburg’ project (LIFE05 NAT/D/000111). Its aim is to restore the characteristic habitats and species included in the annexes of the Habitats Directive of the most representative salt marshes (19 Natura 2000 network sites in total) and to introduce sustainable management practices. With the aid of experts from the State Office for Mining, Geology and Minerals, the project team carried out hydraulic works – such as reconnecting meanders and removing old weirs – to restore the hydrological balance of several marshes and saline areas. Detailed knowledge of local hydrology and the experience of local farmers were essential for success. The works succeeded in raising water levels across some 312 hectares and enabled them to be adjusted in several meadows according to weather conditions and the requirements of the target bird and plant species.

The removal of overgrowth by clearing reeds and shrubs and creating ponds has had a measurable impact on salt marsh biodiversity. The rare salt meadow plants, creeping marsh wort and marsh angelica, have been identified for the first time at several project sites. To manage the wettest meadow areas, the project team decided against expensive specialised mowing equipment. Instead, it introduced extensive grazing with water buffalo. They have adapted well to the tough conditions, surviving winter temperatures as low as -24°C. They are also popular with farmers, local residents and visitors, helping the project achieve its secondary goal of stimulating local interest in the inland salt marshes and developing tourism. With the support of various agro-environmental subsidies, some 300 water buffalo are now grazing the Brandenburg wetlands.

Greatest achievement Project manager Holger Rössling points out that land purchase was ‘really important’ for the project’s success. However, he believes its greatest achievement was to organise, along with landowners and farmers, ‘really good management’ of the salt meadows. This included drawing up an action plan with recommendations for further development so that the water buffalo continue to roam and help conserve this crucial habitat for years to come. Find out more http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm? fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=2952

Extensive grazing with water buffalo

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LIFE and coastal management

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Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coasts enjoy high ecological and economic value. They offer a wide variety of valuable habitats and ecosystem services and have always attracted humans and human activity. However, the heavy concentration of population and exploitation of natural resources bring pressures that lead to biodiversity loss and habitat destruction. This brochure, drawing heavily on practical projects on the ground, provides an overview of the various schemes that contribute to the knowledge, protection and sustainability of our coastal environment. Available in English only from

World Forests Summit: Achieving sustainable forest management on a global scale 5-6 March 2013, Stockholm, Sweden The meeting aims to identify ways forest stakeholders can work together. Issues to be discussed include identifying the value of forests on balance sheets, business models for forest product industries and the role of forests in mitigating climate change.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/ lifefocus/documents/coastal.pdf

http://cemea.economistconferences.com/ event/world-forests-summit

Best LIFE environment projects 2011

Arctic Summit: A new vista for trade, energy and the environment 12 March 2013, Oslo, Norway The event will focus on the major challenges facing the region: the hunt for natural resources, impact of climate change, emergence of new trading routes and the need for responsible governance.

The aim of the annual LIFE Environment Awards programme is to help spread best practice and successful project results by identifying those initiatives with the greatest potential for longterm environmental improvement. The most outstanding are given the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Best of the Bestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; accolade. This booklet presents the five that achieved this status in 2011. Available in English only from http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/publications/lifepublications/ bestprojects/documents/bestenv11.pdf

http://cemea.economistconferences.com/ event/arctic-summit

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Fact sheet on Eco-innovation

Eco-innovation the key to Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future competitiveness use of natural resources. ! " " customers. # $ "

Environment

Eco-innovation covers all forms of innovation, whether technological or not, that create business opportunities and prevent or reduce negative impacts on the environment. It is closely linked to the way we use our natural resources and how we produce and consume goods and services. This four-page factsheet explains the importance of the concept, the policies and finance the EU is using to promote its development and the growing strength of the ecoinnovation industry in the Union. Available in English and soon in other languages from http://ec.europa.eu/environment/pubs/factsheets.htm

Zoe makes a splash! The European Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Directorate-General for Environment has launched its first App for use on mobile devices. Zoe makes a splash! is an interactive digital storybook for children aged 7-11. It is available in English, German, Spanish, Italian and Polish on Apple Store http://itunes.apple.com/lu/app/zoe-makes-a-splash!/ id542684376?mt=8&uo=4

and Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inuistudio. zoemakesasplash

An online version can be viewed at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/pubs/children/zoe/digitalstory/ index.html

Unless otherwise stated, publications are available free of charge from the EU Bookshop at http://bookshop.europa.eu

Blue Economy World Summit 29 April â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1 May 2013, Berlin, Germany The conference will examine implementing and realising a Blue Economy. It will consider possible business models, the key elements of a Blue Economy project and the opportunities available for corporates. http://www.blueeconomy.eu/ blueeconomysummit/index.html

Green Week 2013 4-7 June 2013, Brussels, Belgium Air quality will be the theme of the 13th edition of this annual high-level EU event. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ greenweek/index.html

KH-AD-12-049-EN-C

IN BRIEF

European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme Awards

This year’s awards recognised the contributions that six public and private organisations have made in applying innovative solutions to improve their water management. In the private sector, Abwasserverband Anzbach Laabental (Austria), an association of innovative sewage works, won the micro category. The winner among small organisations was Riechey Freizeitanlagen GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), which runs a camping and holiday park in the Baltic. Neumarkter Lammsbräu Gebr. Ehrnsperger e. K. (Germany), a brewery producing organic beer and non-alcoholic drinks, was successful in the medium category, while the winner among large organisations was Lafarge Cement, the UK’s largest cement maker. In the public sector, the Comune di Tavarnelle Val di Pesa (Tuscany, Italy), which requires water saving technologies in all new buildings won the small category and Bristol City Council (UK), which has reduced the city’s water consumption by 11 % since 2009-10, the large one. For more information http://ec.europa.eu/environment/emas/emasawards/

Nantes becomes European Green Capital 2013

On 29 November 2012, Nantes, France’s sixth largest city, took over as European Green Capital from Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain. It is the fourth city to have won the prestigious title since the award was introduced in 2010. Nantes has many green credentials. They include four Natura 2000 sites, 33 natural zones of floral, faunal or ecological interest and an ambitious climate action plan to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 % per capita by 2020. To win the European Green Capital Award, a city must demonstrate it is in the vanguard of environmentally friendly living and act as a role model to promote best practice elsewhere. Nantes will meet this obligation by taking a travelling exhibition, Aéroflorale II, round Europe during 2013. For more information www.europeangreencapital.eu

Blueprint to protect Europe’s water resources

The European Commission has tabled a blueprint to ensure the EU has sufficient good quality water to satisfy the needs of its inhabitants, the economy and the environment. To meet the existing goal set out in the Water Framework Directive of good water status by 2015, the strategy proposes a three-pronged approach. It emphasises the need to improve implementation of existing European water legislation. Using metering, water-pricing and better economic analysis to apply the ‘polluter pays’ principle could help towards achieving this. Integrating water policy objectives into other relevant EU policy areas such as agriculture, fisheries, renewable energy, transport and the cohesion and structural funds would also go a long way towards meeting the 2015 goal. In addition, the blueprint points to the need to develop ways to improve water efficiency by setting national targets, using water accounts and agreeing EU standards for water re-use. For more information http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/

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Zoe makes a splash! is a new App developed by the Environment Directorate General. It can be downloaded through the App Store http://itunes.apple.com/lu/app/zoe-makes-a-splash!/id542684376?mt=8&uo=4 and Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inuistudio.zoemakesasplash

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Parents & Teachers: use this interactive storybook in the classroom or with your child (target group 7-11) to learn the importance of water in our society.

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The story features two children and their adventures with Fred, a well-educated frog who teaches them (and their parents) the error of their ways. It is packed with fun animations, interactive features, some challenging sections and plenty of tips on how to conserve water. A web version with a set of teaching notes exists to encourage group activities among pupils http://ec.europa.eu/environment/pubs/children/children.htm Available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Polish.

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Parents & Teachers: use this interactive storybook in the classroom or with your child (target group 7-11) to learn the importance of water in our society.

Name:

subscription reply form

Kids: enjoy the story and learn how to help save the environment.

c Bulgarian c Spanish c Czech c German c Estonian c Greek c English c French c Italian c Lithuanian c Polish c Portuguese c Romanian

Organisation: Street:

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Environment DG â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Communication Unit Fax: +32 (0)2 29-86327 You can also subscribe online at: ec.europa.eu/environment/mailingregistration/main/mailing_reg.cfm

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