European Union News - Environmnet

The European Commission is considering ways to tackle the invasive alien species and it is therefore gathering opinions among the interested parts. Currently, there are many cases where animals and plants have been introduced to an environment that is not naturally theirs, such as Canada geese, American bullfrogs, Japanese knotweed, and are now spreading so fast that they become a threat to biological diversity.
 

The European Retail Forum for Sustainability published a report which highlights that companies in the forum are paying more attention to the greening of their supply chains, sustainable distribution systems and the use of renewable energies.

At the 12th session of the Global Ministerial Environment Forum held in Nairobi (Kenya), Mercedes Bresso, president of the Committee of the Regions, highlighted the need for local and regional authorities to be more involved in environmental and sustainable development policy-making and programme implementation at global level.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) published a report in which shows that twelve Member States exceeded one or more of the emission limits set by the EU National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive, and in some cases, the limits were exceeded by significant amounts.

The annual Sustainable Energy Europe Awards that reward best-in-class initiatives to promote renewable energy or energy efficiency, is still opened to entries. The Awards Ceremony is one highlight of EU Sustainable Energy Week that will take place in Brussels and across Europe between 18 and 22 June 2012.

Ministers at the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting held on 21 February reached an agreement to continue to work together with other countries and relevant stakeholders, on potential pathways for long term finance that may contribute to reaching the long term committed goal of mobilizing jointly US$100 billion per year by 2020 by developed countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions. In addition, they adopted conclusions on the economic aspects of the roadmap to a resource-efficient Europe.

The Digital Environment Home Energy Management System (DEHEMS) project presented by the Commission shows that, when consumers receives more information about their energy use, and can share and compare this with neighbours and family, they is more likely to change their behaviour.