European Union News - Environmnet

MEPs at the Environment Committee supports the European Commission's Roadmap, which sets "milestones" including CO2 reduction targets of at least 40% by 2030 and at least 80% by 2050. In addition, they called for an improvement on the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and other policies to help its transition towards an economy less dependent on carbon.

The proposal to improve water quality in the EU made by the Commission consists in adding 15 chemicals to the list of 33 pollutants that are monitored and controlled in EU surface waters. In this way, according to the Commission, it will be monitored and controlled new forms of chemical pollution in European rivers, lakes and coastal waters.

The Commission has partially activated the new Union registry to enable access for aircraft operators. This means a further step in the implementation of the inclusion of aviation in the EU's emissions trading system (EU ETS).

MEPs approved a new regulation on the pest control products that introduce stricter controls in order to better protect human health and the environment, while streamlining the marketing approval process. Council, which has already provisionally agreed to the new legislation, must give a formal green light for it to enter into force.

MEPs approved the new legislation which establishes new targets for collecting and recycling e-waste. According to the new rules, all Member States must increase their collection of e-waste, regardless of whether they already meet the current flat-rate target of 4kg per person per year. In addition, the directive offers consumers new possibilities to return small waste items.

According to a study published by Science and co-authored by the Joint Research Centre, a limited number of air quality measures can substantially mitigate global warming and have significant benefits for human health and agriculture. In particular, the scientists identified 14 emission control measures that, according to the study, can best help to limit global warming and improve health and food security in the coming decades.

According to a recent published Commission's report, if the EU waste legislation is fully implemented, it would save €72 billion a year, increase the annual turnover of the EU waste management and recycling sector by €42 billion and create over 400,000 jobs by 2020.