What are the Environment policies of the EU?

Mission

The overall direction of EU environment policy is laid out in the latest action program--"Environment 2010: Our Future, Our Choice." It concentrates on 4 priority areas: climate change; nature and biodiversity; environment and health; and natural resources and waste. Also, an Environment and Health Action Plan for 2004-2010 promotes a close relationship between health, environment and research policy.

Activities

The EU is a leader in global efforts to protect the environment. The EU, for instance, is one of the initiators of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) creating a strategic approach to the international management of chemicals. The EU is a signatory and active participant in the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, which entered into force in February 2005. Moreover, the EU is party to a number of international agreements and partnerships, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Montreal Protocol on Ozone Depletion.

Internally, the EU has established a comprehensive system of environmental protection covering emissions into the air and water, noise, waste disposal, conservation of natural habitats, chemicals and industrial accidents. An example of such domestic actions is the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) on CO2 emissions from industrial installations. In general, the EU's environmental policy is underpinned by the "precautionary principle." It is based on the "polluter pays" concept and the management and control of pollution at source.

The EU's treaty-based notion of "sustainable development" adheres to this practice by integrating environmental requirements into the definition and implementation of other EU policies and activities. The ultimate goal of sustainable development is to achieve a form of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

References

European Union - Environment
Overviews of European Union - Environment