Reports from the European Environment Agency

The European Environment Agency has come out with a couple of very interesting and important reports recently.

* Do we live in a ‘green economy’? New report assesses progress in Europe

Despite progress in some areas, Europe must do more to create the ‘green economy’ needed for the continent to become sustainable, according to a new report from the EEA.  The ‘Environmental indicator report 2012‘ presents established indicators that illustrate progress towards improving resource efficiency, and indicators that depict the risk of passing environmental thresholds. Jointly, they enable policymakers and the public to reflect on where Europe stands vis-à-vis some aspects of a green economy. Several of the indicators presented in this report show encouraging trends, while others point to issues that require urgent attention.

* Urban adaptation to climate change in Europe

Around three quarters of Europeans live in cities. Most of Europe’s wealth is generated in cities, and urban areas are particularly at risk due to climate change. Europe should seize the opportunity of improving quality of life while adapting to climate change in cities, according to a report from the EEA. The report also warns that delaying adaptation will be much more costly in the long-term.

In Europe, temperature is increasing, precipitation is changing and sea level is rising. However, the effects will not be uniform across the continent, according to the EEA report, ‘Urban adaptation to climate change in Europe‘.  The report is the first Europe-wide assessment of urban vulnerability to climate change. It argues that the distinct design and composition of urban areas compared to rural areas alters climate change impacts in cities, leading to many diverse challenges for cities within Europe.