Environment 1: Economic downturn brings greenhouse gas reduction"The EU is well on track to reach its Kyoto target", stated EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas commenting on provisional data issued last week by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Accordingly, emissions in the entire EU-27 fell by 1.5% in 2008 compared with 2007 levels. EEA estimates indicate that EU greenhouse gas emissions declined for the fourth year running in 2008. "It’s a positive example and a timely message to the rest of the world in the run-up to the Copenhagen climate conference in December" Commissioner Dimas added. He underlined that even recent EU member states registered progress in the Kyoto targets, however, he said, "One should recognize that part of the reduction in emissions is due to the economic slowdown. This trend needs to be further consolidated in the coming years", while "the swift implementation of the EU climate and energy package should give a new impetus to this trend", he concluded.Environment 2: EU light-bulb ban Inefficient clear (transparent) lamps will be phased out in EU27, starting with the highest wattage (100W conventional incandescent bulbs and above) from September 1 2009. The ban, affecting production and imports, is contained in a new EU regulation. However, the commission stresses that the banned lamps will not be taken off the shelves outright on 1 September, but can continue to be sold until stocks run out. The provision’s objectives "are to reduce energy use and combat climate change". By September 2011 and 2012 the ban will be extended to low wattage incandescent bulbs, while all incandescent and inefficient halogens will be gradually phased out. The Commission expects that by 2020 these measures "will reduce energy accountable for the consumption of 23 families per year, equivalent to Belgium’s, and will reduce CO2 emissions by 32 million tons per year, representing 10% of world greenhouse gas emissions". "Fluorescent lamps are more expensive the Executive remarked but they are actually much cheaper if you consider also lamp life time and costs related to electricity consumption while using the lamps". The Commission estimates that "upgrading the lamps could reduce a household’s total electricity consumption by 50 / year". Indeed, traditional incandescent bulbs, put on the market over a century ago, waste 95% of the energy they use as heat.Youth/1 AEGEE: students for Europe In September the new board of governors of AEGEE (Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l’Europe – European Students’ Forum) took office. Since 1985 AEGEE "promotes cooperation, integration and European dimension in education". According to its own definition, the European students’ forum – recognized by the EU and by the Council of Europe is "a secular, non-profit organization, not linked to any political party" seated in Brussels. It is represented by 15.000 students, active in 232 academic cities, in 43 countries all around Europe divided into local independent offices called "antenna" (www.aegeee.org). The board of directors, elected during the Assembly held past April in Cyprus, will hold office for one year. Agata Patecka (Poznan, Poland) chairs the association with deputies Olga Basova (Saint Petersburg, Russia), Nico Huurman (Delft, The Netherlands), Agnes Leyrer (Szombathely, Hungary), Denis Maksimov (Moscow, Russia), Anita Kalmane (Ogre, Latvia). Spokesperson Agnes Leyrer said: "In 2010 AEGEE will celebrate its 25th anniversary with conferences and events across Europe" while continuing its traditional training courses and meetings for youth from various countries. As the executive remarked, AEGEE "is the only association of this kind that is founded and managed by young people only, mostly students and recent graduates from all faculties". "Bringing students from different cultural backgrounds around the same table is the basic prerequisite for true European unity".Youth/2 – Language: contest for secondary schoolsOn September 1st EU Commissioner for Multilingualism Leonard Orban, announced the third "Juvenes Translatores" contest. "Juvenes Translatores", which means "young translators" in Latin is addressed to secondary schools, that are invited to register by October 20. The purpose is "to give students a chance to use the language skills they have learnt, to try "working" as a translator, and to raise awareness of the art of translation". Registration is possible via the online form available at http://ec.europa.eu/translation/contest/, which also presents the contest’s regulations and requirements. Students are asked to choose the language from and into which they intend to translate. They are free to choose from any of the 23 official EU languages. The contest will be held on November 24 2009.
