EU ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

EU environmental policies and legislation protect natural habitats, keep air and water clean, ensure proper waste disposal, improve knowledge about toxic chemicals and help businesses move toward a sustainable economy.

The following is a list of EU Environment and Climate Change related legislation documents and weblinks that are currently available on Lean Business Ireland.

International Dolphin Conservation Programme
1999/337/EC: Council Decision of 26 April 1999 on the signature by the European Community of the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Programme

This programme contains measures that will make it possible to gradually reduce dolphin mortalities during tuna fishing in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and to ensure the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks in the area concerned.

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International trade in hazardous chemicals
2006/730/EC: Council Decision of 25 September 2006 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade

—It ensures the EU’s approval of, and participation in, the Rotterdam Convention after the Court of Justice had annulled the original legislative decision on a point of law.

—The convention provides for a prior informed consent procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides traded internationally.

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Kyoto Protocol on climate change [archived]
2002/358/EC: Council Decision of 25 April 2002 concerning the approval, on behalf of the European Community, of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the joint fulfilment of commitments thereunder

The Kyoto Protocol, which follows the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is one of the chief instruments for tackling climate change. It contains the undertakings entered into by the industrialised countries to reduce their emissions of certain greenhouse gases which are responsible for global warming. The total emissions of the developed countries are to be reduced by at least 5 % over the period 2008-2012 compared with 1990 levels.

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Landfill of waste
Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste

It aims to prevent, or reduce as much as possible, any negative impact from landfilling on surface water, groundwater, soil, air or human health. It does so by introducing stringent technical requirements.

KEY POINTS

  • Landfill sites are divided into three categories: landfills for hazardous waste, landfills for non-hazardous waste and landfills for inert waste (waste which will not decompose or burn, such as gravel, sand and stone).
  • EU governments must implement national strategies to progressively reduce the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfills.
  • Landfill facilities may not accept used tyres or waste which is liquid, flammable, explosive or corrosive, or from hospitals and medical and veterinary practices.
  • Only waste that has been treated may be landfilled.
  • Municipal waste may go to landfills for non-hazardous waste.
  • National authorities must ensure that the price operators charge for disposing of the waste covers all the costs involved from opening to final closure of the site.
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Licensing system for imports of timber to the EU
Council Regulation (EC) No 2173/2005 of 20 December 2005 on the establishment of a FLEGT licensing scheme for imports of timber into the European Community

Known as the forest law enforcement, governance and trade (FLEGT) regulation, it establishes a licensing scheme that ensures that the wood imported into the EU is harvested legally.

It complements Regulation (EU) No 995/2010, which aims to combat illegal logging.

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Living well, within the limits of our planet: the 7th EAP (2014-20)
Decision No 1386/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 "Living well, within the limits of our planet'

The 7th Environment Action Programme (EAP) will guide European environment policy until 2020. The new Plan identifies nine priority objectives and sets out a long-term vision of where it wants the EU to be by 2050.

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Long Term Climate Policy – Greenhouse gases: reducing emissions by 20 % or more by 2020
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Analysis of options to move beyond 20% greenhouse gas emission reductions and assessing the risk of carbon leakage

It analyses the options for the EU of moving from its existing 20 % target to a more ambitious one of 30 %.

KEY POINTS

  • Absolute costs of meeting the 20 % target have fallen. In 2008, they were estimated at €70 billion per year. By 2010, they had fallen to €48 billion.
  • Progress towards the 20 % reduction target for 2020 agreed in 2008 is not sufficient to reach the longer 2050 aim of cuts of between 80-95 % in the most efficient way. This could make the EU’s efforts after 2020 more difficult and expensive.
  • Various options exist to reach the 30 % target. They include:
  • The total cost of a 30 % reduction, including those of going to 20 %, is estimated at €81 billion or 0.54 % of EU gross domestic product.
  • A 30 % target would stimulate technological innovation. This could increase the competitiveness of European industry and bring health benefits through better air quality.
  • Different ways exist to prevent domestic producers of greenhouse gases moving their activities outside the EU (carbon leakage), where less rigorous standards apply. They include exempting energy-intensive industries from buying ETS allowances and encouraging other countries to take greenhouse gas reduction measures.

For more information, see the European Commission’s web page on greenhouse gas emissions.

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Long-term climate policy – Strategy on climate change: foundations of the strategy [archived]
Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social committee and the Committee of the Regions - Winning the Battle Against Global Climate Change

On the basis of an analysis of the effects of climate change and the costs and benefits of action in this area, the Commission is establishing the bases of a future EU climate change strategy. This strategy would be based on, among other things, implementation of existing policies, the preparation of new measures in coordination with other European policies, more research, greater international cooperation and measures to increase public awareness.

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