The European Union

THE EUROPEAN UNIONLesson 9

How is the EU addressing the issue ofclimate change?

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Effects on the EU from Climate ChangeSome impacts of global warming on the environment:

• Greater threats to marine bio-systems and loss of habitat

• Waterlogging of lakes and wetlands

• Thawing of glaciers and upward shift of tree line and increased rock fall

• Reduced ski season

• Increased salinity of inland seas

• Biodiversity losses

• Severe fires in drained peatland and forests

• Increased drought

• Increased land loss in estuaries and deltas

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Effects on the EU from Climate ChangeSome impacts of global warming on human activity:

• Increased coastal erosions and flooding

• Increased vulnerability of infrastructure

and urban areas to extreme weather

• Decreased crop yield and suitable crop areas

• Increased land loss in estuaries and deltas

• Reduced water availability

• Less hydropower

• Increased health effects of heat waves

• Increased energy demand in summer

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Climate change – a global challengeTo stop global warming, EU leaders decided in 2007 to:

• reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020

(30% if other developed countries do likewise)

• improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020 

• raise the share of renewable energy

to 20% by 2020 (wind, solar, hydro

power, biomass)

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EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) • Since January 2005, carbon dioxide (CO2) is a tradable commodity

• ETS places a 'cap' on the amount of carbon dioxide that participating installations can emit every year

• So far, only energy intensive industries are covered, e.g. steel works, oil refineries and power stations

• More efficient installations can sell their remaining allowances

• Less efficient installations must face a hefty fine or buy allowances from others

• The ETS fosters research on greater energy efficiency and should ultimately reduce pollution

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EU funded programs include: • The Intelligent Energy-Europe Program (IEE), with a €730 million

(US$950 million) budget allocated for 2007-2013

• LIFE, the EU’s financial program supporting environmental conservation projects. Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed some 3115 initiatives, such as:

– Wind technology

– Energy recovery from landfill

bio-gas

– Habitat restoration and recovery

– Biodiversity

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Environmental Protection

• A leader in global efforts to protect the environment, maintaining rigorous and comprehensive systems at home.

• Plays a key role in developing and implementing international agreements.

• Executing a “cap and trade” system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

• Takes the lead in the fight against global warming with the adoption of binding energy targets (cutting 20% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2020).

Addressing Global Challenges

Source: German Information Center USA

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Improving Health and the Environment

• Cleaner bathing water

• Much less acid rain

• Lead-free gasoline

• Free and safe disposal of old electronic equipment

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• Strict rules on food safety from farm to fork

• More organic farming

• More effective health warnings on cigarettes

• Registration and control of all chemicals (REACH)

Pollution knows no borders – EU action has helped bring: