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Policies put the EU on track to meet its 2020 climate and energy targets but bigger push needed for 2030

European Union (EU) greenhouse gas emissions fell almost 2 % between 2012 and 2013, putting the EU very close to its 2020 reduction target, according to new analysis from the European Environment Agency (EEA). The EU is also on track to meet two other targets to boost renewable energy and energy efficiency by 2020.

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Climate-forcing F-gases – new report published

Fluorinated gases (F-gases) are emitted into the atmosphere in relatively small quantities, but their effect on climate change is increasingly significant. These substances are very powerful greenhouse gases, with a warming effect thousands of times greater than CO2 in many cases.

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Europe successfully phasing out known ozone layer-harming chemicals

Chemicals which damage the ozone layer continue to be phased out in the European Union, according to the latest data from the European Environment Agency (EEA).

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EU reports lowest greenhouse gas emissions on record

The European Union's greenhouse gas emissions continued to fall in 2012, as a 1.3 % decrease cut emissions to 19.2 % below 1990 levels, according to official data from the European Environment Agency (EEA). This puts the EU within reach of its 20 % reduction target, with eight years to go until the 2020 deadline.

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Improving transparency in water services

The average European directly uses approximately 130 litres of water per day. Better access to data on water supply and treatment may help Europe use this precious resource more efficiently, according to a new report on water utilities.

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Soil contamination widespread in Europe

There are an estimated 340 000 contaminated pieces of land in Europe, most of which are yet to be identified, according to a new Europe-wide assessment.

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Environmental innovation award - winners announced

Winners of this year's European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Awards have been announced by the European Commission. The six winning organisations were selected by an independent jury for innovating to improve their environmental performance.

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Water: nutrient and heavy metal pollution 'decoupling' from growth

European households are generating lower levels of nutrient pollution in water, despite a growing population. In a similar example of 'absolute decoupling', levels of some pollutants from agriculture and manufacturing have fallen in recent years, while the economic production of these sectors has grown.

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Use of climate-forcing F-gases underlines need for innovation

Fluorinated gases, otherwise known as F-gases, are a range of industrial gases which have a powerful effect on the climate. As EU policy makers consider further proposals to limit the use of these gases, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has published data on their production, import and export.

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EU meets most international air pollutant emissions limits, further cuts possible

Many air pollutant emissions are below internationally agreed limits, except nitrogen oxides, according to a European Environment Agency report released today. Emissions of three air pollutants, including fine particulate matter, are only slightly above targets to be met in 2020.

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Greenhouse gases: 2011 emissions lower than previously estimated

Greenhouse gases fell by 3.3 % in the EU in 2011, leading to the lowest level of emissions in reports going back to 1990. The decrease in 2011 was also the third largest over this period, according to official data compiled by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and reported by the EU to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

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Green fiscal reform can create jobs and stimulate innovation across the EU

Increasing some tax rates and removing subsidies on environmentally harmful products and services can boost economic growth if the revenue generated is then used to relieve the tax burden on employment and investment.

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Europe using less ozone-damaging chemicals

Europe has made significant progress in phasing out chemicals which damage the ozone layer, according to a report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). The report considers production and use of more than 200 chemicals which damage the planet’s ozone layer, which are controlled by the Montreal Protocol and EU legislation.

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European Union's total greenhouse emissions down 2.5 % in 2011

Greenhouse gas emissions from the European Union (EU) fell by 2.5 %, despite higher coal consumption and a growing gross domestic product (GDP), according to new estimates from the European Environment Agency (EEA).

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Higher EU greenhouse gas emissions in 2010 due to economic recovery and cold winter

Greenhouse gas emissions increased in 2010, as a result of both economic recovery in many countries after the 2009 recession and a colder winter. Nonetheless, emissions growth was somewhat contained by continued strong growth in renewable energy sources. These figures from the greenhouse gas inventory published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today confirm earlier EEA estimates.

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Economic growth must be decoupled from environmental harm – the EEA evaluates findings from 2011

Europe’s impact on the environment is still very much linked to the economy. This message was clear in many of the reports and datasets published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in 2011, as analysts were able to clearly see a decrease in various emissions and types of environmental damage during the 2009 recession.

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Industrial air pollution cost Europe up to €169 billion in 2009, EEA reveals

Air pollution from the 10,000 largest polluting facilities in Europe cost citizens between € 102 and 169 billion in 2009. This was one of the findings of a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) which analysed the costs of harm to health and the environment caused by air pollution. Half of the total damage cost (between € 51 and 85 billion) was caused by just 191 facilities.

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Environmental taxes on aggregate materials in the EU: towards sustainable construction

Environmental taxes on construction materials can be a key element in achieving better sustainability in the construction sector, says a report presented today by the European Environment Agency. The study reviews taxation schemes for extractive activities in the Czech Republic, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom, focusing on a EUR 15.2 billion industry producing essential materials for the construction sector.

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Updated European Pollutant Emission Register launched

EPER, a register of 50 air and water pollutants' emissions produced by large and medium-sized industrial facilities in all EU Member States and Norway, was originally launched in 2004. The updated version of EPER contains data for the new EU Member States.

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More transparent data on EU's greenhouse gas emissions

The European Environment Agency presented today a new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions viewer, where users can display emission data broken down by Member State, year and trading sector in a user-friendly interface. With this viewer, the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) data become significantly more accessible for a wide range of users.

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