Environment for Europeans

In the spotlight

Climate change

Coping with a changing climate

Olives © Zlepoizon.com Increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, fires, floods and droughts are just some of the changes already triggered by climate change. Even if the world stopped emitting greenhouse gases tomorrow, the climate would continue changing for many decades to come. In April, the Commission published proposals for a comprehensive strategy to prepare the European Union to cope with the reality of climate change.

The Big Question

Biodiversity

Seeking a post-2010 vision

Cracks in the desert © iStockphoto.com It is clear that the EU cannot now meet its goal of halting biodiversity loss by 2010. So, guided by the conclusions of a major conference in Athens, Community policymakers are now working on a new vision and an ambitious target on biodiversity which is both clear and measurable. The European Commission wants to shake up EU biodiversity policy, making it a universal political priority and taking into account the emerging challenges of limiting climate change and maintaining ecosystem services. One umbrella body for conservation organisations is calling for a new and ambitious 2020 biodiversity target, while a body representing landowners believes that the EU also needs to attach more value to biodiversity and ecosystems.