the 6th eu community programme (environmental action programme)

7/30/2019 The 6th EU Community Programme (Environmental Action Programme).

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The EAP 6th programme

The prospect of progress in sustainable

development under the EU 6thCommunity Programme

Malcolm Sutherland (0204783)

Original report submitted in March 2003 in fulfilment of the requirements for the module in

Environmental Policy and Regulation (LA532), the University of Abertay Dundee

Revised May 2013


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CONTENTS

Introduction to the 6th Programme

What is Sustainable Development?

Measuring Sustainability

The 5th Environmental Action Programme

How is the 6th EAP taking Sustainable Development further?

Some conclusions

ABBREVIATIONS

EAP Environmental Action Programme

EMAS Eco-Management (and) Audit System

ICM Integrated Coastal ManagementNOx Nitrous oxides

SD Sustainable Development

SMEs Small/Medium Enterprises

SOx Sulphurous oxides

UWTD Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive

VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds

Authors revised note: the original electronic files were lost in 2006. A printout of the

report was retrieved, but this did not contain the references. This report should not be

cited without reference to other literature which has been referenced and reviewed.

Consequently, this file is free of charge, and there are no restrictions on its distribution.


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INTRODUCTION TO THE 6th PROGRAMME

The EU Community Programmes have all coincided with global environmental summits and

treaties; these initially addressed the direct mitigation and control of pollution, although in

recent years, attention has been drawn to the long-term approach of sustainable

development. The fifth and sixth programmes have embraced this principle, in connection

with Agenda 21 and the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, respectively.

Environmental issues include climate change, biodiversity, environmental health, waste

minimisation, and the sustainable use of natural resources- The focus is not merely on

tackling pollution, but on progressing towards a symbiotic interaction between people and

the environment- without compromising peoples' needs.

The means of achieving this progress are proposed through 5 strategies:

(1) adoption of all existing environmental legislation;

(2) consideration for the environment in all policy areas;

(3) communicating with businesses and consumers;

(4) improve access to information; and,

(5) develop environmental awareness in land-use development. Overall, this programme is

designed to be more practical and tactful than its predecessor.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

In its simplest context, sustainable development is defined as the provision of peoples'

needs today, without compromising those of future generations. This essentially requires a

balance between environmental improvement and economic development.

Translating this broad vision into environmental policies and actions has baffled scientists,

politicians, and stakeholders for over a decade. It is not to be confused with sustainable

growth, where profits, the standard of life and that of the environment must continually

improve (Bell & Morse, p11). Such a vision is unrealistic, as reckless economic growth often

occurs at the expense of the environment, and the needs of people living elsewhere.

Instead, article 2 of the Maastricht Treaty calls for "non-inflationary economic growth

respecting the environment". The Progress Report of the 5th EAP states that sustainabledevelopment "will only occur when..." it "...is seen as the only model for economic

development..." and "...is fully accepted by every citizen".

Since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, it is recognised that governments alone cannot achieve

sustainability through legislation alone. The attitudes of business and individuals must

change drastically. In addition, the economic differences between developed and

developing countries have to be properly addressed. More importantly, the public have to

contribute towards such a scheme. Sparse evidence of such changes has occurred in the UK

alone so far.


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A European View of Sustainable Development

To date, some EU member countries have undertaken the initiative to promote

sustainability, through active participation of national and local authorities, companies,

NGOs and citizens, in sharing information and making positive efforts (e.g. recycling

schemes, environmental technology). This reflects the Model of Sustainability, where

everyone in each sector is included:

Figure 1: the Sustainability model, where legislation, participation and the use of indicators are used

The 5th

EAP programme (Towards Sustainability) prescribes a list of objectives against five

key indicators (Table 1). The United Nations Working List of Sustainable Development

Indicators list covers a wider spectrum than that of the 5th

EAP (Table 2).

THE 5 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PROGRAMME

Overall, the first 5 EAP programmes provided Europe with a detailed list of environmental

limits, policies and targets. Through these, significant improvements to local air, water, and

soil quality have been achieved, and many issues relating to direct sources and effects of

pollution have been addressed. Nevertheless, after nearly 30 years of environmental

legislation in the EU, some member states still fail to implement the environmental

directives, which they have signed up to under the European Commission. (Jackson, MEP,

2000.)


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Table 1: the 5th

EAP programme key indicators and objectives

Table 2: UN sustainable development indicators

In the European Union alone, progress towards SD has been limited. The main threats to SD

include:

(1) the accelerated production of greenhouse gases;

(2) serious threats to public health due to hazardous chemicals (especially in food), and

resistant diseases;


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(3) a sixth of the population living in poverty (which persists through family generations and

contributes to poor health and consumer behaviour);

(4) the consistent aging of the population (putting the sustainability of pension schemes at

risk);

(5) dramatic losses in biodiversity in recent years, especially with fish stocks; and,

(6) transport congestion, blighting most urban regions.

Attempts have been made by governments and local communities to address these issues.

However, some environmental legislation has been over-optimistic, or has demanded

improvements, which entail excessively high costs for some member states, and are

inevitably ignored. Also, new environmental issues such as biotechnology, waste disposal

and educating the public, take priority in the 6th

EAP. The previous programme included

three main objectives:

(1) Strategies for 7 environmental priority issues:

a. Climate change

b. Acidification and air quality

c. Biodiversity

d. Water Pollution

e. Urbanisation

f. Coastal zone management

g. Waste management

(2) Target employment sectors, in order to integrate environmental policy into their

activities.

(3) Broaden the range of methods used to implement, environmental policy.

Figure 2 over-page summarises the objectives, directives and targets of the 5th

EAP (Towards

Sustainability. No.138/25).

Although some measurable environmental targets were proposed, most were non-

quantifiable, and as a result, the practical progress towards SD has been rather limited. The

main weaknesses have been weak enforcement of environmental legislation into economic

policies, and a general apathy in allowing stakeholders to participate and be educated in

progressing towards SD.

Speaking of apathy, strategies 1 (a to c) have not been examined further.

1(d) Water Pollution

The last decade witnessed considerable improvement in water quality, although this was

mainly as a result of the UWTD. Several formerly polluted rivers have achieved satisfactory

status. However, there has been limited success in implementing the Nitrates Directive, and

levels of pesticides in groundwater supplies still exceed mandatory limits in many areas.


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Figure 2: the directive, objectives and targets of the 5th

EAP

Nevertheless, the IPPC Directive was passed in 1996; this seeks to control or eliminate

polluting discharges from all industrial sites. The 6'11 EAP takes the mitigation of water

pollution further, as it requires the development of a risk management system for assessing

the potential toxicity of all chemicals (Article 6, pr2), and ratification of the Rotterdam

Convention on pesticides (Article 6, pr 3). It also requires phasing out the discharge of all

hazardous substance discharges to water, and a revision of the Bathing Water Directive

(Article 6, pr 4). It also recommends an overall reduction in the use of pesticides. (Article 2,

pr 4.)

1(e) Urbanisation

As over 70% of the HU population lives in urban areas, over 30% is exposed to high levels of

noise, air pollution, and contributes to the growing urban municipal waste. Energy

consumption and increasing land use are two other problems- This issue was covered by the

5th EAP, although no monitoring mechanisms or targets were stated. Some of the articles

under ihe 6th

EAP address these issues separately, although there are none, which address

urbanisation as a whole.

1(f) Coastal Zone Management

Following the 5 EAP, the EU undertook an integrated coastal zone management

demonstration programme, in order to educate member states, on mitigating the many


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pressures facing coastal environments, including urbanisation, industry, tourism and

transport. No actual coastal zone policy has been implemented as yet.

The 6th

EAP requires each state to promote forest management schemes, and the

incorporation of environmental policy into marine environment and fisheries protection

(Article 4, pr 5-7.) It also encourages both land, and coastal zone management schemes,

through funding and supporting ICM programmes.

1(g) Waste Management

The Landfill Directive hiis been fully implemented in the UK; nevertheless, in both the UK

and the rest of ihe EU, waste production continues to risc, and consumption patterns only

encourage this. The Packaging Directive has resulted in some progress in recycling; there are

also some initiatives in recycling, incinerating or re-using waste materials. Overall, little

progress in reducing total waste being sent to landfill has been achieved.

The 6th

EAP therefore requires a thematic strategy on waste recycling, including collection

schemes, and isolating priority waste streams. (Article 7, pr 6.) It encourages waste

prevention and recycling initiatives, and a drive towards more sustainable consumer

behaviour. (Article 2, pr 6.)

(2) Targeting Employment Sectors

The 5th programme enforced some legislation upon industries, such as the Air Quality, the

Habitats, and ihe IPPC directives. These do not simply enforce strict limits on emissions or

activities, but also allow for consultation with stakeholders, and give adequate time toreduce pollution, without damaging industry.

This is one of the most successful aspects of the 5th EAP, although it provides the

opportunity to curb legislation. As a result, the adoption of Community law has been found

wanting in many member states. The full compliance by member states must be reached,

before the EU can progress further towards SD.

In order 10 help companies afford such improvements, the 6th EAP requires an

environmental compliance assistance programme for SMEs to he established. (Article 3, pr

4.) Enforce controls on the monitoring, labelling and tracing of genetically modified crops(Article 5, pr 8.)

It also promotes sustainable business practises, and the removal of subsidies encouraging

the over-use of finite resources. (Article 7, pr 1.) It considers using legislation, which

demands that companies present an environmental review of their activities, and that they

make such information public. (Article 3, pr 6.) Wider uptake of the EMAS scheme (Article 3,

pr 3.), and the provision of reward schemes for innovative companies are also encouraged.

(Article 3, pr 4.)

The 6

th

EAP also prescribes other methods of tackling apathy in implementingenvironmental policy, such as (i) support towards BATNEEC through the IMPEL network, (ii)


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improved standards of litigation and inspections in member states (Article 3, pr 1), and (iii)

continued application of the Polluter-Pays principle (Article 3,pr3.).

SOME CONCLUSIONS

Social Sustainability - has this been ignored?

The Sustainable Europe Research Institute state, that the integration of environmental

politics into the latest EL) forums and programmes on SD (e.g. the Gothenburg, Cardiff and

Lisbon strategies), has driven attention away from the social and employment issues.

None of the articles under the 6 EAP describe provisions for sustaining employment, except

the financial incentives for SMEs, and the encouragement of emissions trading. However, it

does promote the implementation and revision of environmental policies, through

consultation with interested/affected stakeholders. Article 8 of the Aarhus Convention

(agreed upon by member slates) (6'1' EAP document, p20) encourages public participation

in the preparation of new regulations wherever appropriate.

A more active programme

It is encouraging though that the 6 EAP does enforce some laws, and requires all member

states to adopt existing legislation. This is in response to the varying approaches by present

member slates to implement policies from the previous EAPs. It takes the involvement of

the public, and the provision of information more seriously, which fulfils the need to

educate and involve everyone in meeting both their own needs, and those of theenvironment at large. It does not intend to be over-optimistic either, and it is not designed

to pressurise companies to comply with strict laws beyond their capabilities.

In conclusion, it appears that the 6th

Environmental Action Programme will contribute to

further progress towards sustainability, with a stronger and more strategic approach on

environmental improvement, in comparison to the 5th EAP.

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