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.
The Sixth Environment Action Programme of the European Community entitled "Environment 2010: Our Future, Our Choice” covers the period from 22 July 2002 to 21 July 2012. The programme is based on the Fifth Environment Action Programme, which covered the period 1992-2000, and on the decision regarding its review.
The European Union has adopted the United Nations Convention to combat desertification in countries seriously affected by drought and/or desertification. The aim of the Convention, which was signed in 1994, is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in those countries experiencing serious drought, particularly in Africa, through international cooperation and effective action at all levels.
The Commission presents a strategic plan to accelerate the development and deployment of cost-effective low carbon technologies. This plan comprises measures relating to planning, implementation, resources and international cooperation in the field of energy technology.
• It establishes a common approach and objectives for the prevention, protection and conservation of the marine environment against damaging human activities.
• It requires European Union (EU) countries to develop strategies to achieve ‘good environmental status’* by 2020. The strategies, which span over 6-year cycles, need to include measures that protect the marine ecosystem and that ensure economic activities linked to the marine environment are sustainable.
• It emphasises the need for EU countries to cooperate with their neighbours in the marine regions (North-East Atlantic, Baltic, Mediterranean and Black Sea), namely when devising and implementing their marine strategies. The use of existing regional governance structures, such as Regional Sea Conventions, is therefore an important element to be considered by EU countries.
• It recognises the importance of spatial protection measures for the marine environment, thereby contributing to the creation of a global network of marine protected.
This strategy creates a framework for action aiming to reduce the burden on the environment from the production and consumption of natural resources without penalising economic development. Concerns about resources will be addressed in all relevant policies and specific measures will be put into effect, notably the setting up of a centre for data and indicators, a European forum and an international expert group.
The strategy adopted by the European Commission in November 2009 meets different maritime challenges (security, fisheries, aquaculture, environmental protection, climate change, etc.) facing the Mediterranean basin. It is based on improving governance of maritime affairs which should balance economic development with protection of the environment. The success of this strategy requires enhanced cooperation with the third countries concerned.
It lays down rules on the production, import, export, sale, use, recovery, recycling, reclamation and destruction of substances that damage the ozone layer. It sets out reporting requirements and measures for products and equipment that use these substances. It has been slightly amended three times.
The Commission proposes a number of measures to support the implementation, in the European Union and internationally, of a policy to promote environmentally friendly consumption and production.
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