European environment outlook

Protecting our environment is a key element in ensuring sustainable livelihoods for today's and future generations. Indeed, the most recent Eurobarometer surveys show that as Europeans we regard the protection of our environment to be one of the six key priorities for the European Union. Issues of particular concern are water and air pollution, man-made disasters, and climate change. In addition, new challenges arising from diffuse sources of pollution, changing consumption patterns, and the possibility of sudden extreme environmental changes all need to be addressed.