Document
Actions - Press release - Published: 09
Jan 2009 - Is gardening one of your interests?
If so and you live in central or northern
Europe the 'killer slug' is probably one
of your personal enemies. The slug, which
attacks your herbs and vegetables relentlessly,
seems immune to control measures.
The killer slug, suffocating
lobster, globe trotting televisions and
dangerous air particles are just some of
the topics featured in EEA Signals 2009,
a new annual publication from the European
Environment Agency, launched today in Prague
by Czech Environment Minister Bursík
and Executive Director of the EEA, Professor
Jacqueline McGlade.
The EEA, in partnership
with its network of 32 member countries,
monitors the environment across Europe.
Finding, reading and understanding the range
of 'signals' regarding the health and diversity
of our environment is at the heart of what
the Agency does. EEA Signals 2009, which
will be published in all 26 EEA languages,
takes a story-based approach to provide
a snapshot of key environmental topics of
special relevance to the year ahead.
"2009 offers a
remarkable opportunity to engage the global
community and to begin to deal with the
environmental challenge proper. We need
to move carefully but quickly. The scale
of the challenge should neither paralyse
us into inaction nor stifle valuable debate.
In this context, I welcome the EEA Signals,
which is aimed at the broad range of European
citizens," Minister Bursik said.
The stories in EEA Signals
are not exhaustive but have been selected
on the basis of their relevance to the current
environmental policy debate in Europe. They
address priority issues of climate change,
nature and biodiversity, the use of natural
resources and health and the environment.
"As our need to
mitigate and adapt to climate change becomes
more urgent, so our need to communicate
effectively with a wide audience also increases
in importance. Before we can motivate people
to take action, we need to engage and empower
them, and their governments, to act,"
Professor McGlade said.
Eight environmental
stories for Europe in 2009
EEA Signals is an annual publication profiling
key environmental stories for the coming
twelve months. Signals 2009 includes the
following articles:
Not just hot air: Global
diplomacy and the search for a successor
to the Kyoto protocol
If the well runs dry: Climate change adaptation
and water
Killer Slugs and other Aliens: The killer
slug is just one threat to Europe’s fragile
biodiversity.
Every breath you take: Air quality in Europe
If bioenergy goes boom: Large scale bioenergy
production bears considerable environmental
risks. How will the great bio debate unfold?
Fish out of water: Marine management in
a changing climate
Taking CAP in hand: reform of the Common
Agriculture Policy
Not in my Backyard: International shipments
of waste
Notes to the editor
Translated versions of Signals 2009 are
available here: http://reports.eea.europa.eu/signals-2009
Launch details: Prague,
Czech Republic
Date: January 9
Venue: European Commission Representation,
Jungmannova Street 24
Time: 11 am
Contact information
Ms Gülçin Karadeniz, Press officer
Mr Òscar Romero Sanchez, Press officer
