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  Environmental statement
  2015 results. Annex C, JRC Petten – Institute for Energy and Transport (IET)

  • Published: 2019-09-05
  • Corporate Author(s): Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security (European Commission)
  • Subject: activity report, environmental impact, environmental monitoring, environmental standard, EU environmental policy, public building, working environment
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  Precision agriculture and the future of farming in Europe
  Scientific foresight study

  This study resulted in the identification of four main future opportunities and concerns regarding precision agriculture (PA), or precision farming, in the EU, on which the European Parliament could take anticipatory action now: 1. PA can actively contribute to food security and safety; 2. PA su...

  This study resulted in the identification of four main future opportunities and concerns regarding precision agriculture (PA), or precision farming, in the EU, on which the European Parliament could take anticipatory action now: 1. PA can actively contribute to food security and safety; 2. PA supports sustainable farming; 3. PA will trigger societal changes along with its uptake; 4. PA requires new skills to be learned. The wide diversity of agriculture throughout the EU, regarding particularly farm size, types of farming, farming practices, output and employment, presents a challenge for European policy-makers. European policy measures therefore should differentiate between Member States, taking into account that the opportunities and concerns vary highly from one country to another.

  • Published: 2019-08-13
  • Corporate Author(s): Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services (European Parliament)
  • Personal Author(s): Daheim, Cornelia ; Poppe, Krijn ; Schrijver, Remco
  • Subject: agricultural policy, agricultural product, digital technology, environmental impact, Europe, farming system, fertiliser, harvest, satellite navigation
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  Level(s)
  Building sustainability performance

  Latest edition.

  Level(s) aims at improving resource efficiency in the construction sector and bringing buildings into the circular economy; a regenerative economic system in which resource and energy consumption are minimised. Level(s) links the individual building’s environmental performance with resource prio...

  Level(s) aims at improving resource efficiency in the construction sector and bringing buildings into the circular economy; a regenerative economic system in which resource and energy consumption are minimised. Level(s) links the individual building’s environmental performance with resource priorities at European level.

  • Published: 2019-07-25
  • Corporate Author(s): Directorate-General for Environment (European Commission)
  • Subject: building, building industry, environmental impact, improvement of housing, sustainable development
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  Safer ship recycling for a greener world
  

  Old ships can have a useful and profitable new life as scrap metal. EU rules aim to change current ship recycling practices to make them greener and safer, protecting both the environment and people. The EU Ship Recycling Regulation is a European solution for responsible business, applying from ...

  Old ships can have a useful and profitable new life as scrap metal. EU rules aim to change current ship recycling practices to make them greener and safer, protecting both the environment and people. The EU Ship Recycling Regulation is a European solution for responsible business, applying from January 2019. The Regulation implements the 2009 Hong Kong International Convention on ship recycling, which is not yet in force. Governments are still working on ratification. In the meantime, the EU is leading the way. The Regulation is a model for ship recycling around the world. The only instrument of its kind, it has prompted improvements for ships and yards well beyond the EU. Building on the achievements of this Regulation, the EU will continue to pursue an ambitious approach to ship recycling, at home and globally.

  • Published: 2019-06-26
  • Corporate Author(s): Directorate-General for Environment (European Commission)
  • Subject: environmental impact, environmental policy, environmental protection, environmental research, recycling technology, vessel, waste recycling
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  Recovery of critical and other raw materials from mining waste and landfills
  State of play on existing practices

  The transition to a more circular economy is essential to develop a sustainable, low carbon, resource efficient, and competitive economy in the EU. In such a context, Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) are those with a particularly high importance to the EU economy and, at the same time, with a high ...

  The transition to a more circular economy is essential to develop a sustainable, low carbon, resource efficient, and competitive economy in the EU. In such a context, Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) are those with a particularly high importance to the EU economy and, at the same time, with a high risk of supply disruptions. First and foremost, improving the circular use of CRMs is a key strategy in improving the security of supply and not surprisingly is an objective of various policies. This report delivers on action #39 of the Circular Economy Action Plan: "Sharing of best practice for the recovery of critical raw materials from mining waste and landfills". It builds on discussions held during two 2018 workshops and gathers together six examples of existing practices for the recovery of critical, precious, and other materials from extractive waste and landfills, highlighting technological innovations and contributions to a more comprehensive knowledge-base on raw materials. The report also provides various estimates of potential recovery of certain materials compared to their current demand. Lessons learnt from the practices include awareness that it is very unlikely that recovery processes can target one or just a few specific materials of great interest and disregard other elements or bulk matrixes. Especially in case of very low concentrations, most of the mineral resources and other bulk materials in which they are embedded must be valorised in order to increase economic viability and minimise waste disposal. As recovery processes can be very energy intensive, environmental and land use related aspects are also particularly relevant in that environmental gains may also occur and, moreover, land space can be liberated and reused for new purposes and services. Finally, availability of data and information on secondary materials as well as a harmonised legislative framework within the EU appear to be crucial for the large-scale deployment of recovery practices.

  • Published: 2019-07-15
  • Corporate Author(s): Joint Research Centre (European Commission)
  • Personal Author(s): Blengini, G.A ; Nyberg, M ; Viegas, H.M ; Mathieux, F ; Mancini, L
  • Subject: application of EU law, circular economy, directive (EU), environmental impact, environmental risk prevention, health risk, mining extraction, mining industry, prevention of pollution, raw material, waste management
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  New technologies for Eastern Mediterranean offshore gas exploration
  

  This study examines the evolution of technologies in the offshore exploration and production of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean, and their future environmental impact on the region. It reviews the existing literature and draws upon the expert opinion of various business, policy and aca...

  This study examines the evolution of technologies in the offshore exploration and production of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean, and their future environmental impact on the region. It reviews the existing literature and draws upon the expert opinion of various business, policy and academic insiders, and finds that the main risks come from accidental discharges at sea from well blowouts, chemical releases and the associated greenhouse gas emissions. It also finds that new technologies propel this stage of natural gas development towards increasing digitalisation, better designs for safety equipment, and increased automation. The study then proposes a number of policy measures on collaboration, data sharing, environmental baseline surveys, open digital platforms, and better monitoring for leaked greenhouse gas emissions. All these will help to improve the environmental credentials of offshore operations, but must be accompanied by closer cooperation and collaboration amongst the countries that surround the East Mediterranean Sea.

  • Published: 2019-06-13
  • Corporate Author(s): Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services (European Parliament)
  • Personal Author(s): Fylaktos, Nestor ; Papanicolas, Costas N
  • Subject: environmental impact, extraction of oil, gas, Mediterranean Sea, new technology, offshore structure, oil technology, technological change
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  Preventing plastic waste in Europe
  

  Waste prevention is at the centre of EU waste legislation as it delivers the most effective results in dealing with environmental issues around waste. EU or national strategies and legislation around waste, therefore, routinely place waste prevention at the top of their objectives. Waste prevent...

  Waste prevention is at the centre of EU waste legislation as it delivers the most effective results in dealing with environmental issues around waste. EU or national strategies and legislation around waste, therefore, routinely place waste prevention at the top of their objectives. Waste prevention can be implemented in any waste stream, but it needs to be customised to reflect each stream's particularities. This report focuses on plastic wastes, as there is potential for substantial mitigation of the environmental issues raised by increased plastic consumption through the use of waste prevention instruments and mechanisms.

  • Published: 2019-06-12
  • Corporate Author(s): European Environment Agency (EU body or agency)
  • Subject: environmental impact, environmental law, plastic waste, plastics, plastics industry, waste management, waste recycling
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  Suggestions for the update of the Environmental Footprint Life Cycle Impact Assessment
  Impacts due to resource use, water use, land use, and particulate matter

  The present report illustrates the assessment of available characterisation models and factors in order to suggest an update of those recommended in the EF. The suggested updates where firstly reported in the EF reference package 2.0 and subsequently refined in the EF reference package 3.0) for ...

  The present report illustrates the assessment of available characterisation models and factors in order to suggest an update of those recommended in the EF. The suggested updates where firstly reported in the EF reference package 2.0 and subsequently refined in the EF reference package 3.0) for the impact categories related to resource use, land use, water use, and particulate matter. It has to be noted that the EF reference package 2.0 includes as well updated characterisation factors for other impact categories (e.g. Climate change, ozone depletion) for which details are available in Fazio et al 2018a. The main steps followed to suggest updates of the recommendations for the Environmental Footprint Life Cycle Impact Assessment are reported in the workflow on the right.

  • Published: 2019-06-12
  • Corporate Author(s): Joint Research Centre (European Commission)
  • Personal Author(s): De Laurentiis, V ; Sala, Serenella ; Pant, R ; Benini, L ; Castellani, V ; Vidal-Legaz, B
  • Subject: ecological footprint, environmental impact, environmental monitoring, environmental policy, environmental protection, environmental research, exploitation of resources, product life, research report, use of water
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  Blue bioeconomy forum newsletter
  15 July 2019

  • Published: 2019-07-16
  • Corporate Author(s): Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (European Commission)
  • Subject: aquaculture, common fisheries policy, environmental economics, environmental impact, exploitation of the seas, fisheries policy, marine ecosystem, marine environment, maritime area, maritime transport, sea fishing, shipping policy, sustainable development
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  Taxes in the field of aviation and their impact
  Final report

  Aviation has a unique fiscal regime. On the one hand, in many countries it is subject to specific taxes and charges, such as a departure tax or a solidarity levy. On the other hand, aviation fuel is generally exempt from excise duty and many countries exempt tickets from VAT or apply a zero VAT ...

  Aviation has a unique fiscal regime. On the one hand, in many countries it is subject to specific taxes and charges, such as a departure tax or a solidarity levy. On the other hand, aviation fuel is generally exempt from excise duty and many countries exempt tickets from VAT or apply a zero VAT rate in case of international aviation. Moreover, the Chicago Convention does not allow for taxation of fuel that is on board of aircraft when they land in a jurisdiction, and other ICAO documents urge States to refrain from taxing international aviation. EU regulation of taxes requires a unanimous decision of the Council. This study has made an inventory of taxes in the EU and selected non-EU countries. It has also estimated economic and environmental impacts of these taxes and of tax exemptions. In EU Member States, VAT or other taxes on domestic aviation are the most prevalent and exist in 17 Member States. Six Member States levy taxes on international aviation, invariably in the form of ticket taxes for passengers departing from airports in the Member State. The highest average tax rates are in the UK followed by Italy, Norway, Germany and France.

  • Published: 2019-06-06
  • Corporate Author(s): CE Delft ; Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (European Commission)
  • Subject: air transport, database, economic consequence, environmental impact, environmental tax, EU Member State, input-output analysis, reduction of gas emissions, tax system, VAT