05 March 2015
European policies on the environment and climate have achieved essential benefits for improving the environment and quality of life, as well as from innovations, the creation and growth of new jobs. Despite such achievements, Europe is still facing a number of major environmental challenges. Overcoming them will require fundamental changes in production and consumption systems, which are the root causes of environmental problems.
These are part of the messages contained in the five-year report on the state of the environment (SOER 2015) by the European Environment Agency (EEA), which was officially launched yesterday in the 39 member states of the EIONET network, including Kosovo.
SOER is a key integrated document on the state of the environment in Europe, which the European Environment Agency delivers to the European Parliament.
The SOER 2015 report, entitled The European Environment — State and Outlook 2015, contains information on the environment in Europe, assessments of the global environmental situation, comparative analysis of countries through environmental indicators, and specific reports on countries and regions. All of this is a good basis and a valuable tool in the creation of future national and European environmental policies.
SOER 2015 emphasizes the need for more ambitious policies to achieve the vision for Europe by 2050. It also highlights the need for new approaches that respond to the systemic nature of multiple environmental problems. For example, external pressures, including global mega-trends, can undermine specific policies and local commitments to environmental management. In addition, many environmental challenges are closely linked to production and consumption systems, which support a large number of jobs and provide livelihoods for many people; therefore, changes in these systems create various costs and benefits.
The report concludes that although the full implementation of existing policies will be of essential importance, neither forthcoming environmental policies nor economic and technological achievements will be sufficient to achieve the vision for Europe by 2050.
Overcoming the complex changes facing Europe will require more ambitious policies, supported by greater knowledge and smarter investments, driven by fundamental transformation of key systems such as food, energy, housing, transport, finance, health, and education.
This will encourage the need for strategies and approaches to mitigate pressures and avoid potential damages, restore ecosystems, overcome socio-economic inequality, and empower responses to global trends such as climate change and resource consumption.
The Republic of Kosovo, through the Environmental Protection Agency - AMMK, as part of the EIONET network, actively participated in the entire process of preparing and drafting the SOER 2015.
Of particular importance to Kosovo is that in Part 4 of SOER 2015, for the first time, a national chapter for the Republic of Kosovo (Country briefing) was drafted, in which a special focus is given to the state of the environment in our country. The national chapter is available to the general public on the website of the European Environment Agency.
Kosovo's contribution to the European Environment - State and Outlook 2015 Report (SOER 2015)
Summary (Synthesis) of the European Environment - State and Outlook 2015 Report (SOER 2015)