Abstract
This working paper seeks to contribute to the debate about the role of The European Environment Agency and it is argued that in order to capture a fuller picture of their functioning, we need to go beyond a legal framework (legislation from European Commission as Green and White papers), taking into account institutional features that involve both formal and informal processes. The inception of the European Environment Agency (EEA) was in 1991. Over the years the EEA has become a more loyal partner to the European Commission in the European administrative system, balancing the ability to have a credible voice on the one hand and the need for stability and a secure resource supply on the other. The Agency has also been able to meet increasing demands for information without a similar scale of increase in resources, also pointing to efficiency gains within the organisation. In the Agency we strive to give value for money across an enormous environmental agenda. This is essential in today's climate of increased financial pressure and the growing number of organisations working on environmental issues.
To contribute directly to European Union (EU) policy developments on climate change impacts by refining relevant indicators, producing assessments, combined with socio-economic factors in Europe, using past trends, now casting, spatial analysis, forward looking assessments, and policy effectiveness analysis including economic aspects.
Key-words: European Union; European Environment Agency; Climate change; Decision-making;
Decision making process regarding climate change regulation in
1. The planet is not ours; it is the treasure we hold in trust for future generation s. Kofi Annan , President of the Global Humanitarian Forum, January 2009
8. Decision-making process regarding climate change regulation in European Union 2009-2013. The role of European Environment Agency Eduardo Oliveira October 2010 University of Minho School of Economics and Management
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10. The European Environment Agency (EEA) The Climate System OCEAN Precipitation Sea-ice LAND Ice- sheets snow Biomass Clouds Solar radiation Terrestrial radiation Greenhouse gases and aerosol ATMOSPHERE The Met.Office Hadley Centre Source: IPCC, 2001
16. Overview: Land areas are projected to warm more than the oceans with the greatest warming at high latitudes. Source: IPCC, 2001 Annual mean temperature change, 2071 to 2100 relative to 1990: Global Average in 2085 = 3.1 o C
17. Overview: CO 2 concentrations, temperature and sea level continue to rise /emissions are reduced Source: IPCC, 2001
18. Developing countries are the most vulnerable to climate change M ore flood and drought prone and a large share of the economy is in climate sensitive; Because of a lack of financial , institutional and technological capacity and access to knowledge; Climate change is likely to impact disproportionately upon the poorest countries and the poorest persons within countries; Net market sector effects are expected to be negative in most developing countries; Impacts are worse Access to adequate food, clean water and other Lower capacity to adapt
24. Decision making? Information Environmental Data State of the environment Knowledge assessments Provide integrated environmental data and indicator sets Provide a sound decision basis for environmental policies in the EU and Member Countries The consultation procedure: White and green papers… Decision-makers European, and regional level European Neighbourhood Policy
25. Decision – making -> Consultation EEA aim: Assessments and forward studies High quality environmental data Environmental legislation Dissemination to decision-makers Environmental priorities Producing Ensuring Support Improving Addressing
26. Decision-making process regarding climate change regulation in European Union 2009-2013. Strategic areas of EEA Shared Environmental Information System Communications Air quality Air pollutant emissions Biodiversity Greenhouse gas emissions Freshwater Marine Climate change Ecosystems Land use Air pollutant emissions
27. Decision-making process regarding climate change regulation in European Union 2009-2013. Strategy of EEA for 2009–2013 Shared Environmental Information System Communications Policy - making In Climate Change Integrated environmental Regional and global assessment Strategic futures
28. Decision-making process regarding climate change regulation in European Union 2009-2013. Strategy for 2009–2013 Launch information services in the areas of the Environmental Data Centres (air quality, climate change , biodiversity, freshwater ) Produce the EEA's regular integrated environmental assessment -> focusing on operational and strategic policy priorities , including those of the candidate and potential candidate countries Support environmental reporting within the European Neighbourhood Policy ; 2009 2010 2011
29. Decision-making process regarding climate change regulation in European Union 2009-2013. Strategy for 2009–2013 Produce an assessment of Europe's ecosystem services — Eureca 2012 ; Support the review of the environmental outcomes of the 6th Environment Action Programme and the EU Sustainable Development Strategy. Expand the EEA's communications to the public , policy-makers and experts via multi‑media , user‑friendly, multilingual information particularly in the areas of climate change, biodiversity, ecosystems and the greening of the economy. 2012 2013 Aim for the future
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31. What EU can do? A Community agency is a body governed by European public law ; it is distinct from the Community Institutions (Council, Parliament, Commission, etc.) and has its own legal personality. It is set up by an act of secondary legislation in order to accomplish a very specific technical, scientific or managerial task … Green White Papers
35. Credits Eduardo Oliveira, is from Portugal. He is doing a MSc. in Marketing and Strategic Management in the School of Economics and Management, University of Minho, final year. My dissertation is about “Networks and Place Branding: Minho as International Brand”. Until December, I will stay in Malaysia as exchange student in University Sains Malaysia (USM) with a scholarship from the European Union. In USM, I attend courses in International Political Economy and Political and Decision Making in European Union and also courses in Marketing. I reserved my free time to do some research in destination marketing and place branding, my favorite topics and improve my skills in global issues, like climate change, sustainable development and explore the most controversial topics in the international political economy context. My main goal is to understand the economic and local markets, the consumers’ needs in the global economy and search for new ways to achieve a sustainable world. Email address : [email_address] URL: http://www.eduardoo.pt.vu In Malaysia: +601 25 792 867 In Portugal: +351 91 70 60 153
Notas do Editor
"Our Neighbourhood Policy provides us with a coherent approach that ensures that the whole of the EU is committed to deeper relations with all our neighbours. At the same time, it allows us to develop tailor-made relations with each country." Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy