The Annual Environmental Policy Review (EPR) for the year 2009 has been released on 2 August. The EPR summarises the last trends recorded in environmental policies at both EU and Member States' (MSs) level. It also assesses the progress towards the achievement of the goals defined in the 6th Environment Action Programme (EAP6). Only the elements strictly related to energy policy are reported below.
EPR 2009 is structured in three parts:
Part 1 - Main developments in EU environmental policy in 2009
Four priority areas defined in the EAP6, namely climate change, nature and biodiversity, environment and health, and natural resources and waste. This section also identities the important fields for the year to come.
1. Climate Change
- The Commission reminds the plans it adopted in June 2009 to finance the demonstration of CCS in cooperation with China. "The EU and China have made a commitment to develop and demonstrate advanced, near-zero emissions coal technology through carbon carpute and storage by 2020. The investment scheme could serve as a model for other technology cooperation activities." In 2010, the Commission announces that it will discuss the provisions of the CCS directive with MSs and stakeholders, including: CO2 storage life cycle risk management, site characterisation, CO2 stream composition, monitoring and corrective measures and financial contribution. It will release guidance documents by the end of 2010. The Commission plans to establish a Scientific Panel in roder to assist the Commission in its review of the draft permits and draft transfer decisions pursuant to the CCS Directive. It must also review its Decision establishing guidelines for the monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions pursuant to the 2003 ETS Directive in order to include monitoring and reporting guidelines for GHG emissions from the capture, transport and geological storage of CO2.
- The adoption of the Climate and Energy Package of April 2009 forms part of the mitigation efforts of the EU. The rest of 2009 has been dedicated to the preparation of implementation measures.
- The third energy liberalisation package of August 2009 is seens as a crucial step towards the completion of "a true internal market in electricity and gas." This will indeed "be crucial in delivering a low carbon economy - facilitating the intergation of renewbale energy sources and bringing a European focus to network planning.
2. Nature and Biodiversity
Energy is inter alia treated under the Thematic Programme for Environment and Natural Resources, including Energy (ENRTP), financing related projects.
(Not energy relted issues in Section 3. Environment and Health.)
4. Nature Resources and Waste
The Commission notes the publication in October 2009 of the first report of the International Panel on Sustainable Resource Management (set up under the UN Environmental Programme, UNEP) on the theme of biofuels: options for efficient and sustainable production and use of biomass; restoring degraded land; energy recovery from agricultural waste and residues.
Following the Gulf of Mexico disaster, the Commission announces an assessment of the current legislative framework in relation to the requirements on "sustainability and envionmental safety and in relation to environmental liability for damages in the area of offshore hydrocabrons exploration and production."
The Conclusion of Part 1 is worth a full quotation:
"At the end of 2008, the European Economic Recovery Plan providing a fiscal stimulus of 400 billion euro was adopted. It included green initiatives, focusing on energy-savings and climate change measures, and is currently being implemented by the Commission and Member States. The Commission's analysis of green elements in national economic recovery plackages showed that most Member States directed their efforts towards energy efficiency, renewable energy, public transport, fleet renewal of passenger cars, infrastructure and eco-innovation.
The coming years should show how the measures contribute to shifting to a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy. However, only a few Member States included measures to promote resource efficiency (recycling, waste prevention and treatment), water infrastructure, and ecosystems protection and management, promotion of 'green consumption' via green public procurement or via incentives for consumers to purchase greener products. The number of 'green measures' planned, as well as depth of the approach, vary significantly from one Member State to another.
The European 2020 strategy - adopted by the European Council in June 2010 - also supports the need to shift to a resource-efficient economy. The successor of the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs seeks to ensure that Europen emerges from the economic crisis stronger, and it paves the way for smart, green and inclusive growth. In this context, the Commission proposed launching 'Resource efficient Europe' as a key flagship initiative of Europe 2020. This would require full integration of environmentl concers in many other policy areas, while ensuring internal policy coherence. The drive will lead to a number of follow-up initaitves in the course of 2010."
In other words, it looks like "RESOURCE EFFICIENCY" is becoming the new leitmotiv of the European Commission in terms of integration of environmental objectives into other policies.
Part 2 - Statistical data
Data reported here builds on the four priority areas scrutinised in Part 1. An overview of the state of implementation of EU environmental legislation is provided.
Part 3 - Commission's summary of the major environment policy developments in the MSs.
References: SEC(2010) 975 final, 2.8.2010.
"At the end of 2008, the European Economic Recovery Plan providing a fiscal stimulus of 400 billion euro was adopted. It included green initiatives, focusing on energy-savings and climate change measures, and is currently being implemented by the Commission and Member States. The Commission's analysis of green elements in national economic recovery plackages showed that most Member States directed their efforts towards energy efficiency, renewable energy, public transport, fleet renewal of passenger cars, infrastructure and eco-innovation.
The coming years should show how the measures contribute to shifting to a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy. However, only a few Member States included measures to promote resource efficiency (recycling, waste prevention and treatment), water infrastructure, and ecosystems protection and management, promotion of 'green consumption' via green public procurement or via incentives for consumers to purchase greener products. The number of 'green measures' planned, as well as depth of the approach, vary significantly from one Member State to another.
The European 2020 strategy - adopted by the European Council in June 2010 - also supports the need to shift to a resource-efficient economy. The successor of the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs seeks to ensure that Europen emerges from the economic crisis stronger, and it paves the way for smart, green and inclusive growth. In this context, the Commission proposed launching 'Resource efficient Europe' as a key flagship initiative of Europe 2020. This would require full integration of environmentl concers in many other policy areas, while ensuring internal policy coherence. The drive will lead to a number of follow-up initaitves in the course of 2010."
In other words, it looks like "RESOURCE EFFICIENCY" is becoming the new leitmotiv of the European Commission in terms of integration of environmental objectives into other policies.
Part 2 - Statistical data
Data reported here builds on the four priority areas scrutinised in Part 1. An overview of the state of implementation of EU environmental legislation is provided.
Part 3 - Commission's summary of the major environment policy developments in the MSs.
References: SEC(2010) 975 final, 2.8.2010.
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