The European Union is failing to fulfil its environmental commitments in practically all areas, from protecting biodiversity to improving air quality in cities, according to official studies released this month.

THE WORRISOME trend of EU's inability to execute its environmental obligations is confirmed by the European Commission in its latest Environment Policy Review released on 2 August. Although many official environmental protection programmes have been launched and progress is evident in some areas, the EC says in the document that "further efforts are needed, in particular to tackle the loss of biodiversity".

The study states that only 17 per cent of protected habitats and species have a good conservation status: "Grasslands, wetlands and coastal habitats are the most vulnerable, mainly due to factors such as the decline in traditional patterns of agriculture, pressure by tourist development, and climate change." In addition, the review warns, that "the protection of soil biodiversity continues to present a challenge. The overexploitation of marine fisheries remains a threat to marine ecosystems, with some 45 per cent of assessed European stocks falling outside safe biological limits."

The EC review also confirms the warnings of other studies: "On a global level, loss of biodiversity has reached alarming proportions." The study estimates that the global target to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 is unlikely to be met. These and other findings led the EU environment commissioner, Janez Potocnik, to urge European governments to increase their efforts on the issue. "A number of data and trends in environmental protection remain worrying. I see a clear need for further EU and national policy measures to make Europe more resource efficient," Potocnik said.

The review also points out that the quality of air in most European cities continues to be poor. The exposure to particulate matter, especially ozone and other heavy polluters such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide remains high. The situation is no better in transport. The share of road traffic went up to 77 per cent in 2008 from 74 per cent in 2000, while the use of railroads stagnated during the period.

Inconsistent signs of progress

The review also has some words of commendation. In its country review, for instance, it confirms that France will keep its "commitment to reduce its greenhouse emissions by 75 per cent by 2050, compared to 1990 levels." France reduced its per capita emission to 8.6 tons in 2006, down from 9.2 tons in 2000, it said. "In 2006, France's emissions were four per cent lower than 1990, and so well within its target of stabilising emissions by 2008-2012, in line with the objectives of the Kyoto protocol," the review stated.

But another study released on 10 August by the French ministry of the environment, says the figures are wrong. France is today emitting more greenhouse gases per capita than it did 20 years ago, the general commission for sustainable development, a state agency at the ministry of the environment, pointed out. According to their statistics, in 2007 France emitted 439 million tons, practically the same as in 1990. These figures on emissions suggest that "France will have enormous difficulty in fulfilling its own commitment to reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2020, and by 75 per cent in 2050," Grégoire Allix, environmental correspondent for the daily newspaper Le Monde, said.

Scientists say this inability to check emissions is due to the rebound effect. This is the collective behavioural response to the introduction of new technologies and measures aimed at reducing the consumption of energy and resources. Such reactions frequently offset the benefits of new technology or measures.

JULIO GODOY IPS