Monday October 1 st 2012 An overview of Europe’s ecological balance sheet and prospects for a 7 th EAP Prof. Jacqueline McGlade Executive Director, EEA

August 2012 – 100% of Greenland's surface ice melting

Our diagnosis: this is not sustainable

20th Century Population 4X Global freshwater withdrawals 3X Economic Output 22X Fossil fuel consumption 14X OECD Green Growth -- more growth in Quantity? From less is more  to do more with less RESOURCE EFFICIENCY

Towards a 7 th EAP 6 th EAP7 th EAP – 2020s

EU27 imports and exports of materials

Europe and the environmental debt

Share of imports in EU-27 materials consumption for selected materials

Europeans consume % of world apparel output 13 % of world energy output 17 % of world meat output Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Enerdata; FAO...whilst having a 7% global share of population

Food and drink, housing and mobility create the greatest pressures on the environment: the European picture Eating and drinking 16 % of GHG emissions 34 % of material use Housing and infrastructures 31 % of GHG emissions 22 % of material use Mobility 26 % of GHG emissions 14 % of material use Source: EEA

The successes and failures of policy so far Greenhouse gas emissions are falling…

The successes and failures of policy so far …but global temperatures continue to rise

The successes and failures of policy so far Emissions are falling, showing an improvement in resource efficiency...

The successes and failures of policy so far …but the conservation status of many ecosystems is still poor

The successes and failures of policy so far Particulate matter and nitrogen compounds are declining…

The successes and failures of policy so far …but many people are still exposed to high concentrations of pollutants

The successes and failures of policy so far Progress has been made in water efficiency….

The successes and failures of policy so far ….but water stress is still a problem in Europe

Pathways for the future

An economy in which policies and innovations enable society to use resources efficiently, enhancing human well-being in an inclusive manner, while maintaining the natural systems that sustain us. A green economy

Managing natural capital and ecosystem services: improving resource efficiency and ensure resilience Human well-being (social and human capital) goal: enhance social equity and fair burden-sharing Ecosystem (natural capital) goal: ensure ecosystem resilience Economy (produced capital) goal: improve resource efficiency GREEN ECONOMY

Stiglitz-Fitoussi-Sen Commission (2009) and EC’s ‘Beyond GDP’ initiative indicates that it is feasible to measure progress across the economic, social and environmental domains by using a basket of interlinked, coherent indicators. National initiatives like the Gross National Happiness Index of Bhutan Beyond GDP - progress

Wellbeing and happiness a new paradigm UN report of the high- level meeting on well- being and happiness 2 nd April 2012

Natural Capital

Social and Cultural Capital

Human Capital

Building capital

Imaginative capital

Thoughts on a 7 th EAP By and large, European environmental policies appear to have had a clearer impact on improving resource efficiency than on maintaining ecosystem resilience.

Thoughts on a 7 th EAP Implementation Better implementation and further strengthening of current environmental priorities

Thoughts on a 7 th EAP Implementation Better implementation and further strengthening of current environmental priorities Integration Coherent integration of environmental consideration across the many sectoral policy domains

Thoughts on a 7 th EAP Implementation Better implementation and further strengthening of current environmental priorities Integration Coherent integration of environmental consideration across the many sectoral policy domains Inter-linkages Dedicated management of natural capital and ecosystem services (increasing resource efficiency and resilience)

Thoughts on a 7 th EAP Implementation Better implementation and further strengthening of current environmental priorities Integration Coherent integration of environmental consideration across the many sectoral policy domains Inter-linkages Dedicated management of natural capital and ecosystem services (increasing resource efficiency and resilience) International dimension Transform to a green economy to manage natural capital sustainably within Europe … and beyond

Thank you! Jacqueline McGlade