Climate Change: Act and Adapt

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Green Week 2009 Climate change: act and adapt

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Environment for eMagazineditorial of the Directorate-General for the Environment Europeans ec.europa.eu/environment/news/efe/index.htm Green Week 2009 focused on climate change, under the simple ban- EDITORIAL INFORMATION ner ‘Act and Adapt’. The biggest annual conference on EU environ- Environment for Europeans is a quarterly magazine published by the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission. It is available ment policy took place over four days in Brussels, attracting more in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish and Greek. Subscription is free. than 4,000 registered participants, and was also viewed by many on- You can subscribe using the form inside the magazine or online at ec.europa.eu/environment/mailingregistration/main/mailing_reg.cfm line. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas commented that this was a record number, which no doubt reflected high public interest in Editor-in-chief: Carina Vopel Co-ordinator: Jonathan Murphy climate change – in a year that will culminate with the Copenhagen For more information, please contact the Communication Unit: conference aimed at reaching a vital new UN climate agreement. Fax: +32 (0)2 29-86327 Information and documents: ec.europa.eu/environment/env-informa/ The conference was structured around four sub-themes: EU climate Environment for Europeans website: policies; the international dimension; living with climate change; and ec.europa.eu/environment/news/efe/index.htm ‘2050 vision’: a carbon-free society. Organisers collected over 100 thematic conclusions from the 36 sessions, plus several side sessions, Environment for

held on all floors of the Charlemagne building. Videos of every session 2009 Supplement Europeans lem pp en u t S

are now online at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/greenweek/ Green Week 2009 greenweeklive_allsessions.html Climate change: act and adapt The European Union can be proud of its groundbreaking commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by a fifth by 2020 or by 30% if other

industrialised countries make a comparable pledge. This commitment © Cover: EC and practical measures – such as the strengthened Emissions Trading System – are unmatched by any other region in the world. CONTENTS The conference was a great success, but it also served to underline how SUPPLEMENT 2009: GREEN WEEK 2009 much remains to be done before we fully understand climate change and its impacts. Mitigation and adaptation actions will help, but time is The road to Copenhagen running out. As one IPCC expert remarked in a conference session, the 03 latest scientific research suggests that the planet is heading towards a Act and adapt climate that no human has ever known – unless we ensure that global 04 EU climate and energy package emissions peak within ten years and reach zero by 2070. Driven by ambitious targets 05 Science and climate change Correlating policy and observed change 06 International relations and Copenhagen ENVIRONMENT ONLINE Global challenge requires joint efforts Do you want to know what the European Union is doing to protect the environment, what an integrated policy 07 Biodiversity and climate change product is or how to qualify for an “eco-label”? Find out all this and more at DG Environment’s website: Keeping nature as an ally ec.europa.eu/environment/index_en.htm. 08 Vision 2050 NOTICE Neither the European Commission nor any person acting Greening our economy on its behalf may be held responsible for the use to which information in this publication may be put, or for any 10 Security and climate change errors which, despite careful preparation and checking, A war with no military answer may appear. Printed on recycled paper that has been awarded 11 Water scarcity the EU eco-label for graphic paper (ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel) The source of life running dry Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the Carbon capture and storage European Union, 2009 12 ISSN 1563-4183 Time constraints for mass deployment © European Union, 2009 Reproduction of the text is permitted provided the source 13 2050 vision is acknowledged. Reproduction of the photographs is prohibited. The many advantages of working with nature Printed in Belgium. 14 Green Week 2009 Exhibition and side events Green tales from the fringe 16 Recognition for top-rated LIFE projects

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 The road to Copenhagen 03

Act and adapt

Speakers at Green Week 2009 described climate change as “mankind’s greatest challenge” and the “biggest story of all time”. Most agreed that this would be a crucial year in the battle against global warming and called for an ambitious international agreement at the Copenhagen UN climate change conference to limit temperature rises worldwide to no more than 2°C. © TBrisco ©

Green Week opened and closed Copenhagen was not an option, he required to tackle global warming. with numerous references to the added a caveat: developed and de- He lamented the delay in transfer- climate conference to be held in veloping countries are in “the same ring technology to developing coun- Copenhagen this December. Many boat, but different cabins. China is tries, and estimated that it would speakers praised the EU’s efforts to exploring its own model and ap- cost some €130 billion each year to tackle climate change, and especial- proach to a low-carbon future.” reach the 30% emissions target – a ly the contents of the 2008 climate fraction of the sum recently spent Festus Mogae, UN Special Envoy and energy package. Commissioner fixing the world’s broken economy, on climate change, shared the Dimas reminded the conference and the equivalent of the world's thoughts of UN Secretary General of how other developed countries current overseas aid budget. Ban ki-Moon with the conference. 03 The road to Copenhagen need to match the Community’s He stressed the importance of find- Act and adapt commitment to a 20% reduction in ing an agreement that is accept- Copenhagen must greenhouse gas emissions by the “ able not just to the Heads of State 04 EU climate and energy package year 2020 compared to 1990 levels, go down in history and Government of the G8 and the Driven by ambitious targets which will rise to 30% if other coun- as the crossroads Major Economies Forum, but also to tries agree to do their fair share. 05 Science and climate change the world's poor, the great "silent at which the world Correlating policy and observed change President Barroso agreed that the en- majority" who are not represented changed direction ergy and environment targets con- in such forums. ” International relations and Copenhagen tained in the package set the pace 06 There was praise for the new US Commissioner Dimas concluded for the rest of the world. The EU was Global challenge requires joint efforts administration’s commitment to with a reminder of the urgency of providing inspiration by integrating reduce US emissions, albeit to only achieving a breakthrough before Biodiversity and climate change climate change into all its policies, he 07 17% below 2005 levels, and for simi- December, in order to secure an in- said, and steering Europe towards a Keeping nature as an ally lar moves in developed countries ternational agreement in the Dan- low-carbon future. He noted the such as Australia and Japan. ish capital. “Copenhagen must go 08 Vision 2050 extent to which climate change had down in history as the crossroads at Greening our economy defined the current Commission, which the world changed direction and would in all probability do the Green growth by agreeing targets and actions am- Security and climate change same for the next. bitious enough to avert dangerous 10 Many speakers saw the economic climate change,” he said.  A war with no military answer crisis as an opportunity to create 11 Water scarcity International offers clean technology and new jobs. Steve Fludder, Vice President of The source of life running dry Professor Wang Yi, of the Chinese GE Ecomagination, made a plea Academy of Sciences, spoke of Carbon capture and storage for clarity and stability. Once busi- FIND OUT MORE 12 China's efforts to work towards low- nesses were sure of the direction, Time constraints for mass deployment carbon development. But he said DG Environment – future of climate he said, they would automatically there could be no deal in Copenha- change homepage 13 2050 vision adapt to the new requirements of http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/ gen without climate-related mon- the market. future_action.htm The many advantages of working with nature ey, policy and technology transfer Green Week 2009 Exhibition and side events from developed nations. Agreeing Tony Long of the WWF also stressed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate 14 Change Green tales from the fringe with Swedish Environment Minis- the potential for green growth, urg- ter Andreas Carlgren that failure in ing governments to find the funds www.ipcc.ch 16 Recognition for top-rated LIFE projects

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 04 EU climate and energy package

Driven by ambitious targets

The EU leads the world in tackling climate change and seeking energy security through its December 2008 ‘climate and energy package’. Agreed by Member States and the European Parliament in less than a year, the package sets clear targets to be met by the end of the next decade. © iStockphoto

At the core of the package are three EU ETS to create a global carbon levels by 2020. Each EU Member objectives for 2020: cutting green- market. State has agreed to a legally bind- house gas emissions by 20% from ing emissions target based on its The EU ETS puts a cap on the overall 1990 levels, increasing energy effi- relative wealth, with poorer coun- level of emissions from some 11,000 ciency by 20%, and deriving 20% of tries being given more generous industrial installations. Within this energy consumption from renewa- targets. cap companies can buy and sell bles. In a Green Week session, par- emission allowances, and this flex- ticipants were reminded of the over- ibility ensures that emissions are arching goal: avoiding dangerous The technology reduced at least cost. “ climate change by preventing global exists for the whole temperatures from rising more than The revised ETS extends the trading 2°C above pre-industrial levels. period from five to eight years and world to move to a replaces current national caps with The EU has committed to scaling up 30% reduction an EU-wide one which will be re- ” its emission cut from 20% to 30% if duced annually (to 21% below 2005 the rest of the world commits to an The goal of obtaining 20% of the levels in 2020). It also increases the ambitious and satisfactory global EU's energy from renewable sourc- number of allowances that compa- climate deal at December's UN cli- es by 2020 will also be achieved nies have to buy (at auction) from a mate conference in Copenhagen. through binding national targets, mere 4% of the total today to more Jos Delbeke, the European Commis- ranging from 10% for Malta to 49% than half in 2013. This proportion sion's Deputy Director-General for for Sweden. By 2020 all Member will increase annually with a view to Environment, said the technology States will have to meet a 10% tar- having full auctioning by 2027. exists for the whole world to move get for renewable fuels in transport, to a 30% reduction. such as hydrogen, biofuels or 'green' electricity for cars. Only biofuels Small emission complying with agreed sustainabil- Emissions Trading sources ity criteria will be eligible. While the big carbon emitters System The climate and energy package covered by the EU ETS tend to get A cornerstone of the package is a also lays the basis for the devel- most public attention, around 60% strengthening of the EU Emissions opment and implementation of of the EU's greenhouse gas emis- Trading System (ETS) for the 2013- carbon capture and storage (CCS) sions come from smaller operations 2020 trading period and beyond. technologies through a Directive in sectors that are outside the EU The EU ETS is the world’s largest creating a clear legal framework for ETS, such as transport, agriculture, such scheme, and the first inter- their safe use.  households and buildings, noted national one. Yvon Slingenberg, Stefaan Vergote, Deputy Head of Head of DG Environment's unit DG Environment's unit for energy for emissions trading, said the EU and environment. wants other countries that are developing 'cap and trade' systems The target is to reduce these non- of their own to link up with the ETS emissions to 10% below 2005

FIND OUT MORE EU Climate Action http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/climate_action.htm

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 Science and climate change 05 Correlating policy and observed change

While there is now no doubt about the existence of climate change, a degree of uncertainty still surrounds its potential impacts and ways of addressing the problem. The latest scientific findings suggest we need action now and that global emissions should peak before 2020. Europe already plays a major role in funding climate science, and will soon contribute even more through the European Space Agency.

change, and there is still a lot we Policymakers still don’t know about climate systems.” “ underestimate the Malte Meinshausen of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Re- challenge of climate search spoke of further adjustments change that would be needed. He remind- ” Further research is essential on the ed his audience that if the tempera- impacts of different change sce- ture rise was to be limited to 2°C, narios and on solutions, as well as no more than one trillion tonnes of the behaviour of climate itself, said carbon should be emitted between van Ypersele. It would be a big mis- 2000 and 2050. One third of that take, he added, for policymakers to quantity has already been emitted

© iStockphoto content themselves with the current in the last nine years. He underlined state of research. Hence the impor- the importance of keeping this "car- tance of the European Commission’s bon budget" in mind. Speaking at a Green Week session research programme FP7, which has on the science of climate change, He therefore recommended that a budget of almost €10 billion for re- Professor Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, policymakers work towards reduc- search on climate change. ing global emissions as fast as pos- Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmen- Panellists all agreed that good sci- sible. Emissions must peak by 2015 tal Panel on Climate Change, re- ence communications could help or by 2020 at the latest, he said, or minded his audience that the best educate the public, encouraging the cost of making bigger reduc- place to go for scientific informa- them to push politicians and policy- tions in the years before 2050 could tion on climate change is the IPCC. makers to act in this field.  The IPCC’s mission is to sift through prove prohibitive. the wealth of peer-reviewed mate- rial on climate to discern the overall Mapping changes pattern, and to use the picture that EU climate emerges to create a stable plat- Christiane Schmullius of the Univer- form for predictions about climate sity of Jena in Germany stressed the change research change to aid policymakers around importance of Earth observation ❱ Since 2003, over 139 projects the globe. and quality mapping, which are vital and €570m in funding for assessing land cover change and sea level rises. She highlighted the ❱ Research includes prediction, Knowledge gaps role to be played by the European glaciers, deforestation, ocean Van Ypersele highlighted continuing Space Agency, which has been a acidi cation scientific uncertainty about the ex- world leader in monitoring climate ❱ ESA Sentinel satellites will act correlation between greenhouse variables from its satellites and its improve climate change data gas emissions and global tempera- archive of images and data since gathering ture rises. He also suggested that 1991. The next step is the launch of according to the IPPC, 13 years after ESA Sentinel satellites in 2011 for the it was set up, the basis of the EU’s agency’s Global Monitoring for Envi- climate change package – prevent- ronment and Security ing global temperatures rising by programme, which is more than 2°C – might now need to designed to answer FIND OUT MORE be reviewed. But of two things he questions from the IPPC homepage was sure: “Policymakers still under- IPCC and other sci- www.ipcc.ch estimate the challenge of climate entific missions. ESA spacecraft operations www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEM98Z8L6VE_0.html

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 06 International relations and Copenhagen

Global challenge requires joint efforts

China and the United States are the world’s two biggest greenhouse

The question ad- There has been a big shift in of- below 1990 levels by 2020. The re- dressed by speak- ficial Chinese attitudes towards duction will be scaled up to 30% ers from the US, China global warming over the past two in the context of an ambitious and the EU at a Green years, the US speaker admitted. international agreement under Week 2009 debate was wheth- Moreover, the US has made con- which all countries commit to do er the three blocs had shared siderable progress on technology- their fair share to control global or competing interests when it sharing agreements with China. emissions. comes to tackling climate change. The EU also has proposals to help Some speakers suggested that developing countries reduce emis- the EU and the US were compet- sions by giving them incentives to ing for cooperation with China in No matter how “ reach targets in specific sectors. Eu- this field. much Europe tries ropean Parliamentarian Theodoros American negotiator Taiya Smith to reduce emissions, Skylakakis said the EU policy of noted that the lead US climate its e orts would be having the polluter pay must be change negotiator was in Bei- adopted globally, if the world is to jing during the major UN climate irrelevant unless the approach what scientists say is es- change conference held in Bonn US and developing sential to tackle global warming. last March, and suggested that the countries also play Global warming is a market fail- EU should be worried about this. ure that needs a market solution Danish expert Michael Starbaek their role ” to produce the new technology Christensen responded that the that is essential to resolving it, US should be more ambitious Participants welcomed the posi- Skylakakis said. He added that no with its goals on climate change, tive attitude of the new US ad- matter how much Europe tries and was perhaps more comfort- ministration, but warned of to reduce emissions, its efforts able with its fellow big emitter, political hurdles ahead for the would be irrelevant unless the China. American Clean Energy and Se- US and developing countries also curity Act. While this bill aims to play their role.  Coal still favoured reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020, Professor Wang Yi, a Chinese gov- it will provide 85% of permits for ernment adviser, acknowledged free under current plans. that his country opens an average of two coal-fired power stations every week. He said this is es- No Plan B sential to provide for its growing The US was criticised for believing demand for energy, and that the it is not necessary to reach final country has huge coal reserves. agreement in Copenhagen, while However, he added, China is work- the EU was accused of not show- ing to develop new technologies ing sufficient leadership. However, such as carbon capture and to Rosário Bento Pais from the Euro- increase energy efficiency. It has pean Commission exceeded its targets for renew- said that so far only able energy by 400% and cut con- the EU has put any- FIND OUT MORE sumption per GDP by 10% over the thing ambitious on EU campaign for change past three years. He said all parties the negotiating ta- http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/campaign/ must cut emissions and that if the ble, with its unilat- index_en.htm EU wants to take the lead on this, eral commitment it should contribute more. to a 20% reduction UN climate change conference in Copenhagen http://en.cop15.dk

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 Biodiversity and climate change 07 Keeping nature as an ally

Healthy ecosystems offer excellent protection against climate change, but many are already fragile due to human activity and will deteriorate further as the planet gets hotter. A key solution is to develop and implement ecosystem-based approaches for climate change adaptation, which will ensure we have successful policies for both the climate and biodiversity. © iStockphoto

Climate change is a grave threat to become our worst enemies if we pinpointed the dangers of ill-con- species and habitats worldwide. At don’t take care of them. Forests for ceived climate change adaptation a Green Week 2009 seminar on the example could disastrously shift measures. The recently completed biodiversity aspects of adaptation to from acting as carbon sinks to car- Macis project, for instance, showed climate change, Jeff McNeely, Chief bon sources.” that snow-making designed to com- Scientist at the International Union pensate for reduced snowfall in cer- Recent BirdLife research on Euro- for Conservation of Nature and Mem- tain European ski resorts increases pean birds suggests some will shift ber of the International Panel for energy and water use, with a nega- northwards or move to higher areas Sustainable Resource Management, tive impact on local biodiversity. as a result of climate change. While told his audience that the problem some species may adapt well, oth- Czech Minister of the Environment required an immediate solution. ers are expected to lose much of Ladislav Miko, moderating the ses- their current distribution. sion, stressed the need for effective The best and most cost- communication about the relations Europe has excellent nature legisla- “ between biodiversity/ecosystems e ective way of preventing tion but Member States are failing services and climate change miti- to implement it properly, Kreiser or adapting to many gation and adaptation policies. He said. He criticised lobbies block- urged policymakers to promote so- climate-related problems… ing reforms to European policy on lutions that achieve the three goals is to safeguard the health agriculture and fisheries, and said of climate change mitigation, adap- that all EU policy should be checked of ecosystems tation, and biodiversity protection. ” for its ability to boost “ecosystem Europe will not meet its climate tar- resilience”. “We are already losing species, coral gets, he concluded, if it fails to pro- is dying as oceans become more vide an adequate level of support acidic, and sea levels are rising – dis- Adaptation measures for ecosystems and biodiversity.  placing people from their homes in Bangladesh and elsewhere,” he said. Dr Pam Berry of the University of The best and most cost-effective Oxford’s Environmental Change way of preventing or adapting to Institute presented examples of 2010: key year for many climate-related problems, he ecosystem-based climate change added, was to safeguard the health adaptation measures that are posi- biodiversity tive for biodiversity. Green roofs of ecosystems. Resilient ecosystems ❱ International Year of Biodiversity can also minimise damage from ex- can provide useful insulation for treme climatic events. buildings, capture carbon, reduce ❱ Completion of Natura 2000 network’s urban heat spots and increase lo- terrestrial part cal biodiversity. The re-creation of Natural protection washlands in Lincolnshire, UK, has ❱ EU to set a new target for protecting biodiversity That view was also endorsed by brought multiple benefits, helping Konstantin Kreiser of BirdLife Inter- to reduce climate change through national. He suggested that New carbon capture, and boosting adap- Orleans would have suffered less tation by regulating waterflow and from the 2005 Hurricane Katrina preventing floods. It also benefits biodiversity. floods if healthy mangrove forests FIND OUT MORE had surrounded it. Dr Berry called for similar coher- DG Environment – adaptation “Natural systems such as rainforests ent responses to be identified and homepage today absorb half of the world’s promoted wherever possible, so as http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/ greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. to provide cost-effective responses adaptation/index_en.htm to climate change. But she also “They are our best allies, but will Macis project www.macis-project.net

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 08 Vision 2050

Greening our economy

Climate change, environmental destruction and poverty often seem like insurmountable problems. Yet all could be tackled successfully, according to experts gathered at Green Week to imagine the world in 2050. Solutions include the rapid shift to a low or no- growth economy, reducing population growth, and encouraging people to adopt a fully sustainable lifestyle.

In two ‘Greening our economy’ ses- a small fraction of the more than three advocated sourcing as much electricity sions, speakers from different eco- trillion euro that governments recently as possible from local renewables. nomic and environment backgrounds ploughed into the global economy The switch from fossil fuels to renewa- explored the multiple challenges fac- to stave off the crisis would pay huge bles would change our lives and so- ing humanity. They broadly agreed on dividends if it had been invested in ciety in many positive ways, said von the need to recognise that we live in a renewable energy. Uexküll. The chief benefits include world of finite resources and that we Renewables were also a key prior- cannot go on living as we do today. “slowing down climate chaos” and re- ity for Jakob von Uexküll, founder ducing air pollution. Countries would “The ecological footprint already ex- of the World Future Council. He said also no longer need to compete for ceeds Earth’s regenerative capacity the world seems finally to be coming oil and gas resources, which are be- and our demands on this planet have to terms with the fact that there are hind many of today’s conflicts. But he warned this would only happen if there While individuals may readily adapt to the lifestyle were a “decisive switch to large-scale “ renewable energy”. changes required of us all by 2050, our institutions might be more reluctant to do the same Society would also need to engage in ” a “revolution in our production and waste system and mentality”. The doubled over the last 40 years,” noted “limits to growth”, a theory developed throwaway society would disappear, Dr Moustapha Kamal Gueye, Division of four decades ago by The Club of Rome with cradle-to-cradle design systems Technology, Industry and Economics, about the dangers of exponential pop- allowing almost all waste or used ma- UN Environment Programme (UNEP). ulation growth on a planet with finite terials to be fully used again. He added “Moreover, annual greenhouse gas resources. that the millions of new green jobs cre- emissions globally are now five times In von Uexküll’s vision of a “renewable ated in sectors from energy efficiency higher than the planet can absorb.” world” in 2050, changes would have to to sustainable agriculture to manu- be made to every aspect of our lives. facturing would also spur positive be- Green Economy The four main areas where these must havioural change that would in turn Initiative be made are renewable energy, prod- lead to cultural change. People would uct and waste management through happily become “sustainable consum- He called for a “transformative change” circular production systems, green ers”, preferring life quality with fewer to the economy and society, before jobs, and sustainable economic and resources to a world of ever-expanding highlighting examples being explored financial systems that preserve real consumer choice. in UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative, wealth. which makes the economic case for greening economies. Doing this would Changing the GDP create millions of “new and decent Rush for renewables indicator jobs” and better enable us to meet en- However, the “core” of his vision is a Several speakers thought that GDP vironmental challenges such as carbon renewable world with 100% energy (gross domestic product) – now the dependency, ecosystem degradation supply from renewable resources. This main indicator for economic progress – and water scarcity. It would also help to would include a wide mix of renewable would be replaced by other indicators reduce poverty. energy technologies, the use of fuel by 2050. Among them was Dr Arnold The current economic crisis is also cells and biofuels from waste for trans- Tukker, Programme Manager SCORE!, a great opportunity to rethink our port, and the use of new energy storage TNO, who also highlighted new re- economy, he added. For example, just technologies and smart grids. He also search that emphasises the difficulty of

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 eature f Green Week 2009 09 © iStockphoto

maintaining our current living stand- leading capitalist economists are ards without making severe changes. coming round to this view. He concluded by suggesting we want a bet- He noted that in order to have a “fair ter future by design, rather than one and socially just” world by 2050 – yet governed by reactions to disaster. Green Economy one in which people in rich countries maintain their relatively high wage lev- Population also a Initiative (UNEP) els – the world’s economy would need factor ❱ states that investments in im- to be around $200 trillion. That is four proved energy in buildings in times its current level. “But to do that, Dr Ashok Khosla, President of the Inter- the EU and the US has created national Union for Conservation of Na- we would have to decarbonise and de- 2 to 3.5 million jobs materialise the economy by a factor of ture, argued for a reduction in the rate of population growth. This would help ❱ forecasts up to 20 million jobs by 10, so as to ensure lower levels of CO2 and resources use,” he said. address the two major global chal- 2030 in renewable energy lenges of poverty and a deteriorating Practically speaking, this would in- environment. ❱ states that shifting 25% of all volve major changes in consumption, air travel in 2050 under 750 km production and the way the economy He recommended “energy transfers” would result in 5 gigatonnes to poor countries through the provi- functions. On the consumption side, (GT) savings of CO2 a year (total we should expect changes in food sion of more renewables. When people current world emissions equal (such as less meat and dairy), mobility, have more energy available at home 42 gigatonnes; 1 gigatonne = 1,000 million tonnes) housing, and energy-using products: or elsewhere, their behaviour changes together they account for around three enormously, because they are offered ❱ says shifting 25% of all road freight quarters of the lifecycle impacts of our more job and education opportunities. over 500 km to rail could save Better-educated women also choose economy. Manufacturers and products 4 gigatonnes (GT) of CO2/year would also need to be far more energy to have fewer babies, which ultimately efficient. means less poverty and reduced use of resources. He estimates that a woman Tukker believes we could reach the fac- who has two fewer babies will result in tor-10 reduction, but only by combin- carbon savings of some €1,700. More- ing new technologies and addressing over, energy transfer from richer to the full production and consumption poorer countries could cut the global chain. “We will all need to be low-im- population from a predicted nine to pact people by 2050,” he added. seven billion by 2050. FIND OUT MORE His comments were echoed by The debate ended with optimism European Commission – environmental economics Dr Peter Victor, York University, about international-level talks to get Canada, who said that natural sys- http://ec.europa.eu/environment/enveco/ global recognition for green economy index.htm tems must be embedded in the policy. But speakers warned that while economy. He argued that reduc- individuals may readily adapt to the UNEP Green Economy ing economic growth may make it lifestyle changes required of us all by www.unep.org/greeneconomy easier to meet targets such as lower 2050, our institutions might be more greenhouse gases and that even reluctant to do the same. 

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 10 Security and climate change A war with no military answer

Climate change is likely to have significant impacts on international security, especially in regions that are already disadvantaged. The EU has therefore updated its security strategy to take climate change into account and is working to mainstream it into the European Union’s external relations tools.

recognised the security implications division of water from shared rivers of climate change and consequently and the anticipated disappearance

© iStockphoto updated its security strategy to take under the sea of small island nations into account the threats posed by the in the Pacific, where people will have changing climate. to be relocated. There are also ques- Climate change is as much a challenge tions over ownership of international to global security as terrorism and waters surrounding former countries. weapons of mass destruction in parts Identify and invest of Asia, Africa and the Pacific and Indi- Possible solutions include greater an Oceans. Experts predict increasing political cooperation with China and Environmental tensions over natural resources such India, and improving energy security migrants as water, weather changes threaten- by moving away from fossil fuels to Already 98% of the casualties in natu- ing the safety of energy pipelines new technology. Europe should also ral disasters are in developing coun- and nuclear power plants, sea floods anticipate tensions over natural re- tries. The effects of climate change and crop failures. On the other hand, sources such as water and now forge will make these communities even climate change could drive coopera- new agreements, for instance with more vulnerable and result in migration in energy security and conflict African countries where 80% of rivers tion, mostly internally but also exter- prevention and become a catalyst for cross national borders. A key strategy nally. This will require planning for en- peace. must be to identify high-risk areas vironmental migrants, including the and invest in them now, to improve provision of further training, tempo- “Climate change is the chances of managing the ten- rary migration schemes, and improv- a ‘threat multiplier’, sions and conflicts most likely to arise ing and adapting their homes. there. making existing The EU’s policy paper on adapting situations worse and Every policy area needs to be looked to climate change recognises that at in light of climate change. Planning climate change will mean migratory increasing tensions regulations must take into account flows. It says these should be con- even in stable structures’ impact on the environ- sidered in the broader EU debate on regions ment as well as the future impact of security, development and migration ” the environment on structures – such policies.  as the dangers for Russian nuclear Green Week 2009 conference partici- power stations of permafrost melt. pants learned that climate change is a ‘threat multiplier’, making existing sit- A new legal infrastructure may be uations worse and increasing tensions needed to deal with issues such as the even in stable regions. The developed world is starting to feel the effects al- FIND OUT MORE ready. For example Hurricane Katrina in 2005 damaged oil platforms off the EU White Paper on adapting to climate change shores of Louisiana, which led to oil http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/ spikes, while changing water levels index_en.htm pose a problem for hydro dams. International Organisation for Migration www.iom.int The military has long recognised the threat and governments are taking it Commission and Council paper on climate change and seriously, noted Nick Mabey, of E3G, international security a body working towards sustainable www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/ development. He and other speak- en/reports/99387.pdf ers said the first and best way to deal European Security Strategy with the dangers is to control climate www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.aspx?id=266&lang=en change by acting now. In 2007, the EU

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 Water scarcity 11

The source of life running dry

If greenhouse gases are the villains of global warming, water is the victim. Far too little attention is being paid to water scarcity, which is a growing problem in parts of Europe and likely to worsen as a result of climate change.

domestic needs, including tourism, “If greenhouse take a quarter. The short-term an- gases are the villains swer has been to restrict water used

© iStockphoto for agriculture through strict quotas of global warming, with penalties and to give priority to water is the victim” domestic needs, including tourism. healthy crops and food, and reduc- Tam Doduc of the California Water es the risk of fires, soil erosion and Board told of the challenge facing the loss of habitats and rare species. "the most hydrologically altered Global warming, Farmers believe the answer lies in land mass on the planet". Climate increased urbanisa- voluntary water management with change means that California, de- tion and land use changes incentives, plus support from inno- spite its 1,200 dams, has a funda- are creating water shortages world- vation and new technology. mental problem regarding sustain- wide. Green Week participants able use. A big step forward was heard how different communities taken in February this year when are tackling the challenge around Water management agreement was reached on a the continent. The session also focused on man- water-recycling programme for the Better land management is vital. Jan agement around the world. The state.  Pokorny of the Czech Academy of conference heard how the Develop- Sciences of the Czech Republic ex- ment Agency of Eastern Thessaloniki plained how covering land with veg- in Greece drew up a policy for the E ects of water etation can help: while dry land over- Anthemounta river basin region, with heats, land with vegetation makes help from the LIFE Water Agenda scarcity more efficient use of water, has more project. The first step was to identify biodiversity, sequestrates carbon di- the location, quantity and quality of ❱ S lovakia: rainfall has shifted from oxide, mitigates climate change and water, the cost of ensuring sufficient fertile lowlands to the mountains uses the surplus of energy due to supplies, and how to recover the cost. ❱ Cyprus: obliged in 2008 to import greenhouse gas emissions. Partners then designed a water poli- water from Greece at a high cost cy, based on the Agenda 21 principles and the Water Framework Directive’s ❱ C alifornia: forced to set goals on Essential irrigation provisions, that allows everyone to conservation, recycling and wa- Europe’s farmers often take the see how and where water is being ter capture, due to drying deltas, blame for water shortages, as they used. low reservoirs and drought consume up to 80% of the available The policy demonstrates the fea- water for their crops. But as was sibility of achieving a balance be- noted by Eugénie Pommaret, a rep- tween supply and demand by 2020, resentative from the Copa-Cogeca by changing habits and building European farmers’ organisation, good infrastructure. The results are they already manage water under being used to engage the public the Common Agricultural Policy and and create a river basin council. are among the first to be affected by changes in supply. Cyprus and Malta have a semi-arid climate and are the Policies affecting water supply, such EU’s two water-poor as urban development and forestry, countries, with the FIND OUT MORE must take into account their impact lowest quantity of on agriculture. But reducing irriga- DG Environment water homepage water available per tion is not the answer, said Pom- http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/index_en.htm person. Irrigation uses maret, because irrigation ensures over two thirds and LIFE Water Agenda project www.lifewateragenda.org

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 12 Carbon capture and storage Time constraints for mass deployment

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) could play a major role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. But the technology is costly, has yet to be established and will have to be rolled out massively worldwide by 2050 to meet current mitigation targets. Europe has plans for up to a dozen demonstration CCS projects plus one in cooperation with China.

Ambitious timetable and China plan to build a demonstration CCS plant. However, private Timetables for deployment of this and public money may be needed technology are challenging. The to cover its high costs. European Commission wants to see 12 commercial-size CCS demonstra- Deployment of CCS must be signifi- tion plants up and running by 2015. cantly accelerated, said Nick Otter of The G8 nations have called for the the Global CCS Institute, launched technology to be widely deployed recently in Australia in response to by 2020. the G8 challenge on CCS. “We must build confidence that CCS is envi- The EU projects will have to be “sig- ronmentally safe and commercially nificantly innovative and financially viable for global deployment at the sound,” according to the Commis- scale necessary to make a differ- © Bellona/Prosjektlab sion’s Piotr Tulej. He noted there ence,” he added. would be two calls for proposals for these projects, one in December 2011 and another in December 2014. “The EU recognises The goal is to test several types of CCS as one of several CCS technology at different sites Fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas across Europe. technologies with will continue to be vital energy sources the potential to for decades to come in the developed The projects selected will require world and emerging countries, noted Member States’ explicit agreement help it achieve speakers in a Green Week 2009 debate and be required to capture at least deep reductions in 85% of the CO produced. Their op- on CCS. Some 50 new coal-fired plants 2 emissions are in the planning stage for Europe. erators must also promise to share ” the knowledge gained. Tulej ac- Otter highlighted the huge chal- knowledged funding gaps in the lenge of setting up the 10,000 CCS What is CCS? co-financing of the 12 CCS demon- projects called for by the Interna- stration projects. But he said the The technology captures the emissions of car- tional Energy Agency by 2050. By EU has already set aside 300 million bon dioxide that result from combustion proc- then, says the IEA, CCS could con- allowances under the New Entrants esses in various industrial sectors, particularly tribute nearly a fifth of the reduc- Reserve of the EU Emissions Trading tions needed to halve CO emissions when coal and natural gas are used in power System for both these and other in- 2 at a reasonable cost in the power generation. Captured CO2 is then permanently novative renewables demonstra- and industrial sectors alone.  stored in safe underground sites. tion projects.

Meanwhile, in China, the world’s larg- China technology est coal consumer, the equivalent of cooperation one new 500 MW coal-fired plant is completed every few days. The EU is also working internationally to pro- The EU recognises CCS as one of sev- mote CCS and cleaner FIND OUT MORE eral technologies with the potential coal technologies, said DG Environment – CCS homepage to help it achieve deep reductions in the Commission’s Ste- http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/ccs/ emissions. The newly adopted CCS fan Agne. The focus of index_en.htm Directive, which is part of the EU’s the Commission’s new Climate and Energy Package adopted Communication on CCS Global CCS Institute in 2009, aims to create a regulatory in emerging countries www.globalccsinstitute.com framework for ensuring environmen- is China, where the EU tally sound CCS.

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 2050 Vision 13 The many advantages of working with nature

Healthy ecosystems provide vital goods and services that could help us tackle the causes of climate change and adapt to its effects. But mismanagement of natural areas can actually increase local greenhouse gas emissions and compromise biodiversity. Speakers at a Green Week session looking ahead to 2050 underlined the need to work closely with nature, especially in terms of protecting forests and soils.

Peatlands account for an estimated 8% food. He also noted the difficult trade- of total global emissions. “Peat soil is offs that need to be found between only stable when wet,” said Annette global free trade, food security, and the Freibauer of the German Federal Re- demand for bio-energy. search Institute for Rural Areas, Forest- Using agricultural land to cultivate bio- ry and Fisheries, “so carbon is lost when mass for biofuels will reduce the area “Mismanagement of natural areas can actually increase local greenhouse gas emissions and compromise biodiversity” it dries out. Restore peatlands and available to grow food, he added. By © iStockphoto you immediately reduce greenhouse his calculations, if today’s biofuels tar- gases.” She urged policymakers and gets are met, some 140 million more Understanding the role of ecosystems industries to avoid seeing land merely people could be at risk of hunger by in climate regulation is central to un- as a place for biomass production, and 2020. This would accelerate deforesta- derstanding climate change itself, said recommended exploring the potential tion and increase world food prices by Barney Dickson, Head of the UNEP of all land (including urban) to capture between 30% and 50%. Climate Change and Biodiversity pro- or release less carbon. gramme, and Jan Plesnik of the Czech Agency for Nature Conservation. Ecosystem integrity Greater pressures to Participants heard how past deforesta- come Jan Plesnik stressed the importance of tion, notably in developed countries, an integrated approach to biodiversity together with land use change, account Dickson noted how climate change is and climate change. Drawing on new for an estimated 20% of total emissions causing ecosystems to shift to higher research, he suggested we should aim of greenhouse gases. Once trees have latitudes and altitudes, often with det- for healthy ecosystems that support been cut down, the soil emits high lev- rimental effects on their health and dynamic adaptive processes rather els of these gases. There is therefore an the services they provide. But good than merely stable ecosystems. This urgent need to protect the world's re- management can play a vital role in could be done through flexible man- maining forests. Hence the importance helping people and nature to adapt to agement and by preserving ecological of the UN REDD programme, which is such changes. In Vietnam, for example, integrity. planting mangrove to protect coast- exploring ways to reduce emissions He also recommended the develop- lines has proved six times cheaper than from deforestation and degradation in ment of ecological corridors and step- maintaining a dyke system, and has developing countries. ping stones between core natural ar- boosted biodiversity. eas to ensure the sort of connectivity Mahendra Shah of the International that benefits local biodiversity. In na- Biochar: a new way of Institute for Applied Systems Analysis ture protection, he said, the “one size reducing climate change warned of the dangers of ever-greater fits all” approach was not to be recom- deforestation, as governments around mended.  ❱ Biochar is the carbon residue that remains the world struggle to find land to grow after the anaerobic pyrolysis of biomass ❱ One of the few nature-based processes that can turn atmospheric carbon into solid coal FIND OUT MORE (CCS) DG Environment – Nature and Biodiversity homepage http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm ❱ EU agriculture waste could potentially make 100m tonnes of biochar a year, although International Biochar Initiative more research is needed www.biochar-international.org

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 14 Green Week 2009 Exhibition and side events Green tales from the fringe

More than 60 exhibitors attended Green Week 2009 to showcase new ideas, projects and solutions in the private and public sectors. Exhibits from industry, the energy sector, agriculture, nature protection and many other sectors were spread over three floors of the Charlemagne building in Brussels. Below we have picked out several stands or exhibits of special interest, in text and photos.

The desert is taking over the village of Longbaoshan in China, forcing villagers to abandon their land.

Extra, extra! Side sessions and activities meant that there was no ‘down time’ for Green Week participants. ‘Cities against climate change’ featured speakers from Hamburg and Murcia, while ‘Archibiotics’ saw environmental architect Vincent Callebaut present his visionary works, including oating cities to accommodate the world’s expanding population. Participants could also attend an awards ceremony for the best LIFE Environment and LIFE Nature projects of 2008-2009 or take a tour of ‘Vegetal City’, an exhibition of sustainable urban visions by Belgian architect Luc Schuiten at the Royal Museums of Art and History. On the Berlaymont esplanade beside Charlemagne, a series of large photos showed people across the planet being forced from their homes by global warming. The plight of these ‘climate migrants’ has been documented recently by a group of 10 French photographers and journalists, known as the Argos Collective.

Raising eco-awareness Founded in 1994 by a Senegalese agronomy engi- neer, Brussels-based Coren takes its sustainable development message to schools, authorities and busi- nesses throughout Belgium. The non-profit body carries out environmental audits to international standards, such as EMAS and ISO 14001, and goes into educational establishments to show teachers and pupils how they can make their lessons, lifestyle and buildings more green.

An artificial island has been built in the Maldives for those fleeing the effects of climate change.

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 Green Week 2009 Exhibition and side events 15

The Age of Stupid Spinning for sustainability A 90-minute lm designed to shock people The Green Spider Network has 50 members in 28 countries. It in- into taking action against climate change cludes communication officers from national environment min- was screened as a side event under the istries and agencies in Europe, who share information, ideas and Green Week ‘2050 Vision’ theme. Set in 2055, best practice. Much of its focus next year will be on biodiversity, in in a world devastated by global warming, keeping with the International Year of Biodiversity. The network’s Green Week stand featured representatives from several countries. Franny Armstrong’s ‘The Age of Stupid’ blends Germany used the opportunity to showcase Don Cato, a cartoon drama, documentary and animation, and character who encourages youngsters to ‘green’ their kindergar- is built around the re ections of mankind’s tens and educates children about climate change. sole survivor, archivist Pete Postlethwaite. He works in a cultural museum in the North Sea, where we nd him watching footage of real and ctional news from the early 21st century. Plug-in city transport He muses on the folly of a species that The tiny REVA car charges in eight hours, has a top speed of 80 km/h “knew how to pro t but not to protect”, from and can accommodate two adults and two children. Built and de- India’s latest budget airline to exploitative oil signed in India, this electric vehicle has been available in Europe companies in Nigeria. He remembers how since 2003. Quiet and thrifty, the only CO2 it emits is from the power the impact of climate change was clear for all stations that generate the electricity it runs on. With lithium-ion to see – glaciers were receding by 10 metres batteries, its new utility version offers a range of up to 130 km. The annually and Hurricane Katrina became version displayed outside the Green Weeks venue came courtesy America’s worst weather-related event – and of the European Association for Battery Electric Vehicles and was leaves us regretting how such warnings were heading for Copenhagen, site of this year’s key climate conference. ignored: “We had an unspoken collective Green Week organisers also laid on a hybrid courtesy car from Hon- da, to ferry speakers to and from Brussels airport. pact to ignore climate change.” Since its premiere last March, the lm has shaken the consciences of people and governments worldwide. Age of Stupid producer Lizzy The Danish model Gillett joined the conference by videolink from London, and elded questions from Green A miniature windmill made it easy to locate the stand showcasing the ‘Danish model’. The model in question concerns the public- Week participants. She noted how the lm is private partnerships that have worked successfully in Denmark based on IPCC scienti c predictions, but that for two decades and which are now being harnessed to advance the aim is to provoke an emotional response climate and energy solutions and projects nationwide. Many can in viewers so that they act now: “Copenhagen be viewed on the EnergyMap, an online guide in English to Dan- is our last chance for a binding deal on climate ish energy technologies and renewables – from waste terminals change.” The lm is accompanied by the Not to new green buildings, and biogas-powered farms to wave- Stupid public awareness campaign. energy facilities in the North Sea.

FIND OUT MORE Green Week 2009 exhibition http://ec.europa.eu/environment/greenweek/ exhibition.html

ENVIRONMENT FOR EUROPEANS SUPPLEMENT 2009 all but two of the ten ‘Best of the Best’ projects. For the first time it included Life Nature Nature Life included it time alongsideEnvironmentprojects projects. first the For projects. Best’ the of ‘Best ten the of two from but representativesall with building, Charlemagne awards the its in Week held Green during instrument, ceremony funding environmental Commission's European the LIFE, LIFE projects top-rated for Recognition spread, while benefiting the imperial eagle as well as mountain and Mediterranean scrubland habitats. habitats. scrubland Mediterranean and as mountain as well eagle imperial the benefiting while spread, territorial and diversity genetic species’ the increased also project The individuals. 200 some to home now is dalusia An- project. Andalucía Lince Spanish the to thanks 49% by increased was Andalusia in population Lynx Iberian The and forest-covered mires. mainTheresults include increasean speciesinsuch theasendangered white-backed woodpecker borealinforests Also in Finland, around ha 6,000 of in forests 33 Natura 2000 sites have been restored under the Boreal Forests project. facilities. recreational local improved and waterfowl, and as waders such species wetland for status conservation favourable secured It wetlands. and grasslands of ha 500 some ing of 12 a restor- areas, network wetland in of the Finland developed Gulf 2000 Natura project four-year The Lintulahdet too. amphibians and birds many other benefited cutting reed and improvement water-level as such Actions Greece. in project Prespa Mikri Lake the under Breedingfeedingandconditions have nowimproved theendangeredfor Dalmatian pelicanpygmyand cormorant LIFE+ anew in project. reintroductions be will there and 10 just individuals from adult bred been have vipers (26400 ha). Some restoration habitat and plans management developed which project, Hunvipur the to thanks receivedalsoendangeredbettermuchawards.doingSeven Hungarianprojectsotheris The meadowviper Nature projects CO panels. resulting the of quality the of volatile organic compounds by 99%. The system also saves 10-20% of the energy previously needed, and improves Luxembourg-based Ecosb implemented an innovative drying system for wood-based panels that reduces emissions tonne. per cost overall the reducing and altogether use acid and water out energy, less cutting 46% In Italy, ESD successfully Denmark. developed and a Luxembourg moreItaly, environmentally from friendlyprojects system Environment for steel Best’ rod-wire the production of which uses‘Best three from presentations were There Environment projects end. officially they after continue will projects winning thisyear's of Several areas. mental The 38 and Best projects, ten ‘Best of the Best’, showcase the LIFE programme’s achievements in a range of environ- use the technology. the use now 45 a 15%Over and supermarkets Danish use costs. in maintenance in energy a 4% reduction reduction bringing frigerators can bring substantial environmental and commercial The benefits. use of greenhouse gas HFCs is avoided, 2 ref, a Danish project, demonstrated ref, that a using demonstrated a Danish – project, natural COrefrigerant bestnat2007-2008/index.htm http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/bestprojects/ LIFE NatureBest projects best2008-2009/index.htm http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/bestprojects/ LIFEEnvironmentBest projects FIND OUTMORE 2 – in a for new commercial re- technology 

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