Category Archives: EU
Influencing Policy-Making in Europe
The Policy Lunchbox network was today joined by Sirini Withana, Policy Analyst at the Institute of European Environmental Policy. Sirini led a fascinating discussion to explain the structures and processes of policy-making in the European Union. The EU has grown … Continue reading
Biodiversity in Europe – Closer to a 2020 Target
The EU Environment Council reached an agreement on aims and ambitions for managing biodiversity loss across Europe on 15 March this year when it adopted the following conclusions: “[The Council] AGREES on a long-term vision that by 2050 European Union … Continue reading
Chief Science Adviser for Europe
An editorial in this week’s Nature argues that the post of Chief Science Adviser to the Europe, created at a meeting of European Commissioners on 17 February, must have real teeth and the support needed to deliver effectively. In an … Continue reading
Growing Interest in Habitat Banking
Habitat banking describes the trade in habitat or biodiversity ‘credits’, i.e. areas of land where environmental restoration has taken place that can be bought to compensate for unavoidable habitat destruction through development. This concept has been in practice in the … Continue reading
Making Biofuels More Sustainable
A report published by the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management has outlined recommendations to make the future production of biofuels more sustainable. The report concentrated on first generation biofuels, such as ethanol and sugar cane, … Continue reading
Melting Glaciers Releasing Trapped Pollutants
New research shows that concentrations of pollutants in the environment and atmosphere may increase with global warming, as melting glaciers release pollutants which became trapped in their ice at the end of the twentieth century. A team of researchers working … Continue reading
Raising the ALARM for Pollinator Decline in Europe
New research conducted under the EU-funded ALARM project (Assessing LArge scale environmental Risks for biodiversity with tested Methods) has identified land-use practices and agrochemical use as the main pressures causing a decline in pollinating insects, including bees, in Europe. It … Continue reading
Assessing Risks from Pesticides in Europe’s Waterways
New research showcased in last week’s ‘Science for Environment Policy‘ digest, produced by the European Commission, suggests that the ‘Species at Risk’ (SPEAR) system could provide an accurate and cost-effective means of assessing the effects of pesticides in streams. Under … Continue reading
European Commission to appoint Chief Scientist for Europe
José Manuel Barroso, the newly re-elected European Commission president, has promised to review the use of scientific advice by the Commission. He has also announced that he will create a new post of Chief Scientist for Europe. The Chief Scientist … Continue reading
English and Welsh Water Quality Improves – But Still A Very Long Way To Go
Water quality in England and Wales has improved for the nineteenth year in a row the Environment Agency announced today. Seven out of 10 English rivers and nine out of 10 Welsh rivers achieved what is termed “very good” or … Continue reading