According to the latest Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament, Europeans care deeply about environmental issues. The survey was conducted among 27,969 people from all over the EU and it was set up to be representative of the population as a whole. 67 percent of its respondents said that they would like the EU to do more on environmental protection.
Italian EPP member Giovanni La Via, Chair of the Environmental Committee, addressed the survey and the concerns of Europeans regarding the environment by saying that “We share the concerns of our citizens, as seen in the Eurobarometer and are, for this reason, very committed to work on new policies and proposals to fight climate change and safeguard the environment.” Mr La Via also commented on the agreement concluded at the COP21 summit in Paris in December last year by stressing that “the European Union has had a crucial impact on this agreement and is now developing all the policies to effectively turn it into acts.”
The EU institutions are currently implementing the Paris agreement including the bloc’s Emissions Trading Scheme, EU legislation promoting renewables as well as the target to reduce the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Parliament and Council have also recently reached a deal regarding legislation to improve the quality of air including caps on emissions of key pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulates and sulfur dioxide, by 2030. The Commission has also pledged to look into the scandals of falsified car emissions measurements.
The EU has also recently adopted new rules on energy efficiency labeling for household appliances to make it easier for consumers to select what they want. The Parliament is also very supportive of the legislation aimed to stimulate a circular economy, which is about durable and sustainable products suitable for re-cycling and re-use. MEPs are also working on legislation for an improved waste management.
