Climate and energy transition

An overwhelming majority of Europeans believe that the loss of biological diversity is a serious problem, according to a Eurobarometer survey on attitudes to biodiversity. They however feel badly informed about the topic.of biodiversity... One third of Europeans actually knows what "biodiversity" means (December 2007).

 

Two thirds of Europeans say they already make a personal effort to protect biodiversity, while a third say they would like to do more. A fifth of Europeans surveyed say they would act if they knew what they could do to stop biodiversity loss.

 

Watching news and documentaries on TV, searching the Internet and reading newspapers and magazines were the three most typical ways of finding out more about biodiversity issues.

 

The greatest threats to biodiversity

 

Europeans see air and water pollution and man-made disasters such as oil spills and industrial accidents as the greatest threats to biodiversity (27%). This is followed by climate change (19%), the intensification of agriculture, deforestation and overfishing (13%), and the construction of roads, housing, or industrial areas (8%).

 

Local and regional governments and sustainable development

 

Local and regional governments are acting on the causes of climate change, sustainable development and biodiversity too. In 2004, they launched the "Aalbord Commitments" with a view to help local governments to set up sustainable policies. Late 2007, more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed themselves to the urban sustainability principles of the "Aalborg Charter".

 

The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) produced a manifesto for urban sustainable mobility entitled "Sustainable mobility in Europe's towns and regions". More recently, CEMR published a guide addressed to elected representatives and the civil service of European local and regional governments. Its aim is to help municipalities and regions use energy in a sustainable way. The publication "Save energy, save the climate, save money" includes ten action steps on energy issues, and concrete examples of sustainable energy management.

CEMR's publications