EU continues to run an ecological deficit, says new Living Planet Report -Tackling CO2 emissions will significantly reduce its Ecological Footprint

Posted on 30 September 2014

A continuously rising demand for natural resources and increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere by a growing population are putting tremendous pressures on our planets biodiversity, and are threatening our future security, health and well-being, reveals the 2014 edition of WWFs Living Planet Report  the leading biennial survey of the Earths health.

A continuously rising demand for natural resources and increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere by a growing population are putting tremendous pressures on our planets biodiversity, and are threatening our future security, health and well-being, reveals the 2014 edition of WWF's Living Planet Report  the leading biennial survey of the Earths health.

Globally, populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles measured for the report have declined by 52 per cent since 1970; and freshwater species have suffered a 76 per cent decline - an average loss almost double that of land and marine species.

One of the report indicators on the state of the planet, the Ecological Footprint, shows that all of the 27 European Union (EU) countries surveyed [1] are living beyond one planetlevels and are also relying heavily on the natural resources of other countries. If everyone on the planet lived the average lifestyle of a resident of European Union, humanity would need 2.6 Earths [2] to sustain our demand on nature.

The EUs Ecological Footprint is big. Our economic activities are contributing to the loss of biodiversity and habitats both at home and abroad - this undermines the natural systems upon which we depend for the food we eat, the air we breathe and the stable climate we need, says Tony Long, Director at WWFs European Policy Office.

The climate connection
Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2)  the main cause of global warming  are already impacting the planets biodiversity and bio-capacity, along with human well-being, particularly with regard to food and water security. Europes carbon footprint makes up nearly 50% of its total ecological footprint, due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

However solutions are at hand, as the report arrives at an important moment for EU and global climate and energy policy.In Europe, the European Council taking place in Brussels on 23 and 24 October will see Heads of State deciding on an EU climate and energy package until 2030; whilst at global level, the UN Climate Change Conference in Lima in Decemberand especially in Paris in 2015, will be the place where governments will try to reach a global agreement to curb the dangerous effects of global warming.

Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU have dropped quite a bit since the 1990s, but that doesnt mean we can become complacent. We still have quite a way to go to cut emissions to within safe limits, says Tony Long. Solutions exist, but the EU needs to agree on stronger climate and energy targets to bring us into a new era, where Europe shoulders its global responsibilities.

Highest and lowest Ecological Footprints in the EU
Out of the EU Member States evaluated, Belgium, the country which hosts the European Institutions, has one of the worlds largest Ecological Footprints per person, requiring an equivalent of 4.3 Earths if everyone lived like an average resident of Belgium, and ranking 5th globally behind countries like Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

This is principally due to Belgiums carbon footprint, which makes up 43 per cent of its total Ecological Footprint. It is clear that as far as energy use and energy efficiency is concerned, Belgium is not amongst the best performing countries, as it is more energy intensive for buildings and the transport sector. The low occupancy rate of cars, the tight road network and the low taxes for diesel contribute to a higher amount of vehicle kilometres per person, and therefore also to a higher Ecological Footprint, says Damien Vincent, CEO of WWF Belgium.

Belgian policy is not fully tapping the potential for reducing its carbon footprint, in particular with regards to its building stock - if no new measures are taken, the country will not reach its emission reduction target for 2020. The country has to show more vision, ambition and coordination to drive down its CO2-emissions in the short, medium and long term, concludes Damien Vincent.

Romania has the lowest Ecological Footprint in the EU, at an equivalent of 1.4 earths. The result is much more related to the breakdown of industry and much less to the strategic vision of the government. Although some steps have been taken on the path to a sustainable forest or river management, the holistic approach which incorporates climate change and nature in the general planning process is missing, says Magor Csibi, Director of WWF Danube Carpathian Programme Romania.

The challenge for Romania, as for much of the world, will be to advance economic prosperity and human development significantly  without expanding its footprint to the same levels as Belgium and other EU countries. This will require a strong focus on efficiency and the uptake of the most sustainable technologies and practices, continues Magor Csibi.

So how can we heal the planet?
We all take nature for granted. Global overshoot happens because we cut timber more quickly than trees regrow, fish more fish than can be replenished, pump freshwater faster than groundwater restocks, and release CO2 faster than nature can sequester it. All these resources and natural systems are under immense pressure.

Our planet is in bad shape but there are solutions. For people, businesses and the economy to continue thriving by tapping into what nature has to offer, we need to protect it, produce better, consume more wisely and move to economic models that value nature, concludes Tony Long.

WWF's One Planet Perspectiveshows how every corner of the globe can contribute to maintaining a footprint that doesn't outpace Earth's ability to renew. By following WWFs programme for one planet living, society can begin reversing the trends indicated in the Living Planet Report 2014.

The complete report, summary and support material can be found at www.wwf.eu/LPR.

[1] Except for Croatia which was not part of the EU in 2010 which was the data sample used to calculate this report
[2] The difference in results for the same reference year is driven both by newer data and by process improvements between the editions. LPR 2012 was based on the 2011 edition of the National Footprint Accounts and utilized data up to the year 2008. LPR 2014 is based on the 2014 edition of the National Footprint Accounts and utilizes data up to the year 2010. To show process improvements, we compare both editions' results for the year 2008.

-ENDS-

EU and global climate and energy policy timeline:
23-24 October: EU leaders are expected to agree to agree the EU climate and energy package for 2030 and recommendations for the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris;
30 November to 11 December 2015: 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris to try to conclude a post-2020climate change agreement;

Overview of EU-27
Number of Earths needed if all people on the planet had the Footprint of an average resident of the countries below:

 
Country Earths
Austria 3.1
Belgium 4.3
Bulgaria 1.7
Croatia 1.9
Cyprus 2.4
Czech Republic 2.8
Denmark 4.3
Estonia 2.8
Finland 3.1
France 2.7
Germany 2.6
Greece 2.5
Hungary 1.6
Ireland 3.2
Italy 2.6
Latvia 2.2
Lithuania 2.4
Malta 2.5
Netherlands 3.6
Poland 2.4
Portugal 2.6
Romania 1.4
Slovakia 2.1
Slovenia 2.6
Spain 2.3
Sweden 3.7
United Kingdom 2.6


 
EDITORS NOTES

The Living Planet Report 2014 is the tenth edition of WWF's biennial flagship publication. With the theme Species and Spaces, People and Places, the report tracks over 10,000 vertebrate species populations from 1970 to 2010 through the Living Planet Index  a database maintained by the Zoological Society of London. The report's measure of humanity's Ecological Footprint is provided by the Global Footprint Network.

This year's Living Planet Index features updated methodology that more accurately tracks global biodiversity and provides a clearer picture of the health of our natural environment. While the findings reveal that the state of the world's species is worse than in previous reports, the results also put finer focus on available solutions.

The Living Planet Report 2014 also shows Ecological Footprint  a measure of humanity's demands on nature  continuing its upward climb. Taken together, biodiversity loss and unsustainable footprint threaten natural systems and human well-being, but can also point us toward actions to reverse current trends.


Sustainable solutions
The Living Planet Report 2014 serves as a platform for global dialogue, decision-making and action for governments, businesses and civil society at a critical time for the planet.

The report provides WWF's One Planet Perspectivewith strategies to preserve, produce and consume more wisely. It also includes examples of how communities are already making better choices to reduce footprint and biodiversity loss.



Infographic Tweets:
We would need 2.6 planets if everyone in the world lived like an average European citizen #LPR2014 wwf.eu/lpr

EU #GHGemissions down since 90s but more ambition needed from #EC to stay within safe limits! #LPR2014 #EU2030 solutions exist wwf.eu/lpr

Europe can reduce nearly 50% of #EcologicalFootprint by tackling CO�emissions! #EU2030 wwf.eu/lpr 

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For further information:

Alexandra Bennett
Communications Director
WWF European Policy Office
abennett@wwf.eu
+32 477 393 400

Stefania Campogianni
Senior Communications & Media Officer
WWF European Policy Office
scampogianni@wwf.eu
+32 2 743 88 15

www.wwf.eu/lpr


 
Living Planet Report 2014
© ESA
Europe’s carbon footprint makes up nearly 50% of its total ecological footprint, due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU have dropped quite a bit since the 1990’s, but there is still quite a way to go to cut emissions to within safe limits - and the European Commission's proposal is not enough. The EU needs to agree on stronger climate and energy targets to shoulders its global responsibilities.
© WWF