Jacqueline McGLADE, Executive Director of the EEA, presents the report on the European Environment - State and Outlook 2010, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

meeting

LEINEN, Jo (S&D, DE)

general Union environment action programme to 2020 (T)

McGLADE, Jacqueline

European Environment Agency

SCHAUVLIEGE, Joke (BE)

The European Environment - State and Outlook 2010: extracts from the presentation of the report

SOUNDBITE (English), Jacqueline McGLADE, Executive Director of the EEA, There are 3 focused areas of our attention, core areas. We absolutely have to improve monitoring the analysis of future change and uncertainties. We need to embed long term perspective in policy planning and decision taking. And we have to make sure that environmental policy takes account of global links and is aligned to external policies. On issues as broad as trade and foreign aid. So once we recognize the complexity of the challenges, we need more sophisticated, integrated policy narrative. It brings all the sectors, a policy approach that really fits the needs of the 21st century.

SOUNDBITE (English), Joke SCHAUVLIEGE, Flemish Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Culture (Belgian Presidency), The EU is the worlds leading donor who gives full and transparent report on its delivery of 2.2 billion fast start funding to support developing countries. Global action is becoming evermore urgent if we all to have a change of holding global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. Apart from climate change and biodiversity I am also pleased that the EE report also highlights other environmental challenges we use overall current pattern of protection and consumption, endangers the availability of resources and has a negative impact on the quality of air, water and soil, human health, climate and biodiversity both within and outside Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Joke SCHAUVLIEGE, Flemish Minister for the Environment, Natural Resources and Culture (Belgian Presidency), Environmental information should get its rightful place in modern informational society. Second, that balanced sustainable development policies are only possible if quality ensured of environmental information is available and accessible. Third, that integrated information systems and streamlined reporting obligations are required to improve this qualitative information and that in the support of environmental policy making and the creation of awareness and acknowledgment by citizens. And fourth, environmental information should be available at a relevant policy level, global, European, national but also regional and local level.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jo LEINEN (S&amp;D, DE), Chairman of the EP Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, No doubt we have made a lot of progress if you look back: clean air, clean water. I think Europe has done a lot as some high standards that we could be proud of. But nevertheless the ecological footprint of our 27 Member States of the EU is negative and I could continue on the speeches we have heard before. WWF was recently saying, we need a second planet if that continuous like that with 9 billion people and economic growth the ecological balance is certainly in danger.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jo LEINEN (S&amp;D, DE), Chairman of the EP Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, If the EC has decided that by the middle of this century the EU will reduce some of 80% of climate gases, and when I see last weeks resolution of Cancun we had in plenary in Strasbourg, where we had difficulties to demand 30% in 10 years, then we can imagine how difficult path to be to 2050 to reach 80%. If this is really serious what we have decided, then it means an industrial revolution. That is the word of Jeremy Rifkin that I like to repeat, because it is true. We need complete new patterns of protection of distribution and of consumption and it is a challenge and it is a chance. It might be the only chance we have in Europe in competitive globalisation to come forward with new product and new services