Protecting the environment

The themes recently addressed by the Commission include issues pertaining to the environment, ranging from the multifarious aspects of environmental protection, energy resources, biodiversity, soil and sea protection. A few days ago the Executive released a statement on two specific initiatives.Renewable resources. "Europe needs to make the transition to a post-petroleum economy. Greater use of renewable resources is no longer just an option, it is a necessity". On February 13 Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, presented the strategy "to shift the European economy towards greater and more sustainable use of renewable resources", and delved into the relationship between economic system, demography, living standards, energy, waste, and other related issues. "With the world population approaching 9 billion by 2050 and natural resources finite, Europe needs renewable biological resources for secure and healthy food and feed, as well as for materials, energy, and other products", she added. This strategy is based on an a "cross-sectoral approach" whose purpose is "to create a more innovative and low-emissions economy, reconciling demands for sustainable agriculture and fisheries, food security, and the sustainable use of renewable biological resources for industrial purposes".Strategic guidelines. The plan therefore focuses on three key aspects: "developing new technologies and processes for the bioeconomy" (primarily grounded in research); "developing markets and competitiveness in bioeconomy sectors (valuing bio-waste); and "pushing policymakers and stakeholders to work more closely together", through the creation of a Bioeconomy Panel and Observatory. As stated by the Executive, this "means an economy using biological resources from the land and sea, as well as waste, as inputs to food and feed, industrial and energy production". It also covers the use of bio-based processes for sustainable industries". Bio-waste for example "has considerable potential as an alternative to chemical fertilizers". According to the document presented by the Commission, the EU bioeconomy already has a turnover of nearly €2 trillion and employs more than 22 million people" in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, as well as food production. Worrying figures. On the basis of figures contained in "The state of the Soil in Europe" report, presented by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, in collaboration with the European Environment Agency on February 13, the Commission underlined the need for action across EU27 to combat soil degradation, described as "a worrying phenomenon". "Between 1990 and 2006, at least 275 hectares of soil per day were permanently lost through soil sealing", amounting to "an area the size of Cyprus every ten years". According to the report, Soil erosion by water is estimated to affect 1.3 million km² in Europe, "an area equivalent to 2.5 times the size of France". Soil degradation "affects our capacity to produce food, prevent droughts and flooding, stop biodiversity loss, and tackle climate change". Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik, remarked: "These reports highlight the importance of preserving European soils if we are to safeguard supplies of quality food and clean groundwater, healthy recreational spaces, and lower greenhouse gas emissions". Joint approach. For the Commissioner, the resources from our soils should be used "more sustainably". For this purpose, "The best way to do this would be through a common approach across the EU". The Commission has presented legislative proposals due to be examined by Council and Parliament, in the hope of "moving towards action". The Executive thus presented a set of concrete proposals. "Erosion, soil sealing and acidification have all increased in the past decade, and the trend is likely to continue unless challenges such as rising land-use, the inefficient use of natural resources and the preservation of organic matter in soil are addressed". According to the policy report, five years after the adoption of a Soil Thematic Strategy, "there is still no systematic monitoring and protection of soil quality across Europe".