1. Water and the Green Economy: The EEA perspective
Informal Meeting of Water and
Marine Directors May, Riga 2015
Ronan Uhel
European Environment Agency

2. The 7th EAP: a long term vision of sustainability
“In 2050, we live well, within the planet's ecological limits. Our prosperity and healthy environment stem from an innovative, circular economy where nothing is wasted and where natural resources are managed sustainably, and biodiversity is protected, valued and restored in ways that enhance our society's resilience. Our low-carbon growth has long been decoupled from resource use, setting the pace for a global, safe and sustainable society.”
Source: 7th Environment Action Programme
Other EU policies offer similar perspectives: Europe 2020 Strategy, EU Energy Roadmap 2050, Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe, Roadmap for a competitive low-carbon economy in 2050, etc. 2

4. SOER 2015 Assessment of global megatrends
Introduction to SOER 2015
SOER 2015
The EEA is mandated in its governing regulation to publish a State of the Environment Report (SOER) every five years, to assess the European environment’s state, trends and prospects.
The suite of SOER 2015 products – 2 reports and 87 briefings – provide a baseline to assess where Europe is making progress against the 7th EAP objectives.
The SOER 2015 synthesis report signals opportunities to recalibrate policies and knowledge in line with the 2050 vision.
SOER 2015 Synthesis report
SOER 2015 Assessment of global megatrends
11 briefings
Global
megatrends
25 briefings
European
briefings
9 briefings
Cross-country
comparisons
39+3 briefings
Countries and regions

5. Introduction to SOER 2015
Composition of SOER 2015
Synthesis report
Focus: A synthesis across different SOER 2015 parts to provide a strategic and integrated assessment. It is multidisciplinary, spans thematic issues and geographic scales and aims to support decision-making.
Based on: relevant EEA data, indicators and assessments complemented with other sources; and dedicated stakeholder workshops.
Format: Published as a printed report and online with links to underlying data, indicators and references.

7. Progress to policy targets
Assessing European trends: Protecting, conserving and enhancing natural capital
Protecting, conserving and enhancing natural capital
5–10 year trends
Progress to policy targets
Terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity 
Land use and soil functions
No target 
Ecological status of freshwater bodies 
Water quality and nutrient loading   
Air pollution and its ecosystem impacts
Marine and coastal biodiversity
Climate change impacts on ecosystems
No target
20+ years outlook
Improving trends dominate
Trends show mixed picture
Deteriorating trends dominate
Largely on track
Partially on track
Largely not on track   
Source: EEA. SOER 2015 Synthesis report.
Overall
summary table
Summary table 2/3
Summary table 3/3

8. Understanding the boundaries for use – EBM
WFD & MSFD
Source: EEA SOER 2015 briefing on Hydrological systems and sustainable water management

9. GO TO ONLINE BRIEFING
Freshwater quality
Much cleaner than 25 years ago, many water bodies are still affected by pollutants and/or altered habitats.
In 2009, only 43 % showed a good/high ecological status; the 10 points expected increase for 2015 (53 %) constitutes only a modest improvement in aquatic ecosystem health.
Water management should improve with the second round of river basin management plans in resulting in the realisation of more policy objectives through stringent, well- integrated implementation and public participation.
© Peter Kristensen, EEA
Ecol. status of freshwater bodies
Water quality and nutrient loading
Climate change impacts on ecosystems
Industrial pollution to air, soil and water
Water pollution & related envi. health risks
Urban systems and grey infrastructure
Chemicals & related envi. health risks
Water use and water stress
Freshwater quality

10. Hydrological systems and sustainable water management
GO TO ONLINE BRIEFING
Hydrological systems and sustainable water management
Intensive agriculture, urbanisation, energy production and flood protection have altered European hydrological systems and freshwater habitats for decades.
Climate change adds to these challenges (higher water temperature, more floods or water scarcity).
Less than half of all water bodies have a ‘good status’.
Full and coordinated implementation of water and nature legislation would restore aquatic habitats and foster water efficiency.
© Katarzyna Dąbrowska, Environment & Me /EEA
Ecol. status of freshwater bodies
Water quality and nutrient loading
Water use and water stress

11. Water management - investing in Natural Capital
Sustainability
1st phase
2nd phase
3rd phase
Climate proof
Green infrastructure
Green/blue cities
Nature based solutions
Reduction at source
Water/food link
Water/energy link
Treatment and sanitation
Flood defence
Drainage
Water efficiency
Economic instruments
Water pricing
Infrastructure
Time

12. Ecosystem-based management for the seas
Spatial approach
Multiple objectives
Recognising connections
Cumulative impacts

13. Marine environment Seas and oceans act as a coherent ecosystem.
GO TO ONLINE BRIEFING
Marine environment
Seas and oceans act as a coherent ecosystem.
Across all of Europe’s regional seas, marine biodiversity is in poor condition: only 7 % of marine species assessments indicate ‘favourable conservation status’. Effects of climate change (e.g. acidification) add to the cumulative impacts.
Effective policy implementation can reduce impacts. For example, for several stocks the number of fish caught at ‘maximum sustainable yield’ levels continues to increase, suggesting healthier stocks. EU MPA networks continues to expand.
Large amount of ‘unknowns’, ‘not assessed’ or ‘not reported’.
© Spyridoula Kressou, Environment & Me /EEA
Marine and coastal biodiversity
Climate change impacts on ecosystems

14. Maritime activities
GO TO ONLINE BRIEFING
Maritime activities
Exploitation of European seas and coasts continues to increase as new industries emerge and traditional ones move further off-shore.
The main pressures include: extraction of species, pollution, the spread of non-indigenous species and seafloor disturbance.
In calling for an ecosystem-based approach, the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy (MSFD, MSP, Blue Growth) and the EU’s Common Fishery Policy recognises the balance that must be achieved between ‘use’ of the sea and achieving the objective of ‘good environmental status’ by 2020.
© Pirjo Jha, Environment & Me /EEA
Marine and coastal biodiversity

15. Transitions to a better ‘wet’ environment
SUSTAINABILITY
2050
2014/2018
WFD targets
Nature Directives targets
MSFD Baseline
2020 targets
MSFD target (Good Environmental Status)
Halt biodiversity loss
Fisheries below Max. Sustainable Yield
targets
Vision in 7EAP
Reduce GHG 80-95%
Water blueprint
Zero impacts (air)
SDGs ?
TIME
Transitions for an improved marine environment
In the longer term, we need to think more radically and look at changing fundamental aspects of our society. This is where the message of hope is perhaps the most important.
Our ‘socio-technical’ systems (for transport, food, and energy) all affect the oceans. To see real improvement in our marine environment, we must not only implement the MSFD and existing environmental legislation. We must also make radical changes in these underlying socio-technical systems. This means re-orienting our economies and our values to make a transition to more sustainable ways of living, producing and consuming.
Making transitions is tricky, but it is necessary to fulfil the vision contained in the 7th EAP of ‘living well within the limits of our planet’, which speaks of our unsustainable practices of agriculture, land use and consumption. To fulfil this vision, we need bold new targets with the force of the 2020 targets in order to solidify and back up the visions is in line with the 2050 vision contained in the 7th EAP.
thematic policies timelines and deadlines
2020/2030 comprehensive policies (Europe 2020, 7th EAP), or specific targets
2050 long term visions and targets with a societal transition perspective

16. Sharing data and information
Developing WISE-Marine
Principles of SEIS
Partnership with Regional Sea Conventions
Sharing data and information
The aim of WISE-Marine is to develop a website in line with the BISE site, focused on sharing information related to the MSFD. EEA will develop a section focused on state of the marine environment which is to be supported by European and regional indicators. As part of its work to support MSFD implementation, EEA is also developing a data infrastructure for WISE-Marine which should be able to handle data and information reported as part of MSFD, and to inform and visulalise the indicators needed for the state of the environment section.

17. SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS providing social needs and value
Green Economy: Living well within ecological limits
Ecosystem
services
ECOSYSTEMS
Policy
Values
Technology
Science
Market
Industry
SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
providing social needs and value
Environmental externalities
Withdrawals from the ecosystems
Deposits Emissions Pollution
system
Food
Energy
Mobility

18. SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS providing social needs and value
Green Economy: Living well within ecological limits
ECOSYSTEMS
Ecosystem services
Water supply
Habitats
Flood retention / protection
Recreation, cultural services …
Withdrawals from the ecosystems
SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
providing social needs and value
system
Policy
Industry
Energy
system
Food
system
Ecosystem
services
Environmental externalities
system
system
Mobility
system
Market
Values
Deposits Emissions Pollution
Science
Technology

19. SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS providing social needs and value
Green Economy: Living well within ecological limits
ECOSYSTEMS
Values and norms
Cultural
Well being
Historic identity
Withdrawals from the ecosystems
SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
providing social needs and value
system
Policy
Industry
Energy
system
Food
system
Ecosystem
services
Environmental externalities
system
system
Mobility
system
Market
Values
Deposits Emissions Pollution
Science
Technology

20. SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS providing social needs and value
Green Economy: Living well within ecological limits
Market dynamics
Water services, supply, treatment
Water price
Part in overall production costs
ROI from investing in natural capital
ECOSYSTEMS
Withdrawals from the ecosystems
SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
providing social needs and value
system
Policy
Industry
Energy
system
Food
system
Ecosystem
services
Environmental externalities
system
system
Mobility
system
Market
Values
Deposits Emissions Pollution
Science
Technology

21. SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS providing social needs and value
Green Economy: Living well within ecological limits
Water sector
Technology
Process
Energy
Employment
Competitiveness
ECOSYSTEMS
Withdrawals from the ecosystems
SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
providing social needs and value
system
Policy
Industry
Energy
system
Food
system
Ecosystem
services
Environmental externalities
system
system
Mobility
system
Market
Values
Deposits Emissions Pollution
Science
Technology

22. SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS providing social needs and value
Green Economy: Living well within ecological limits
ECOSYSTEMS
Technology and science
‘Water’ sector and beyond
Innovation for efficiency
Research for nature based solutions
Patents
Withdrawals from the ecosystems
SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
providing social needs and value
system
Policy
Industry
Energy
system
Food
system
Ecosystem
services
Environmental externalities
system
system
Mobility
system
Market
Values
Deposits Emissions Pollution
Science
Technology

23. ECOSYSTEMS Sectors and core systems SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
Green Economy: Living well within ecological limits
ECOSYSTEMS
Sectors and core systems
Water/energy link
Smart agriculture and food consumption
Inland navigation
Built environment
Withdrawals from the ecosystems
SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
providing social needs and value
system
Policy
Industry
Food
system
Energy
Mobility
Ecosystem
services
Environmental externalities
system
system
Market
Values
Deposits Emissions Pollution
Science
Technology

24. SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS providing social needs and value
Green Economy: Living well within ecological limits
ECOSYSTEMS
Withdrawals from the ecosystems
SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
providing social needs and value
Systemic and integrated policies
Achieve “good status” not end goal
Respect sustainability limits
High ambition level
Strong implementation
system
Policy
Industry
Food
system
Ecosystem
services
Energy
system
Environmental externalities
system
system
Mobility
system
Market
Values
Deposits Emissions Pollution
Science
Technology

25. SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS providing social needs and value
Externalities
Minimized
Circularity
Evaluated in light of overall sustainability
Green Economy: Living well within ecological limits
ECOSYSTEMS
Withdrawals from the ecosystems
SOCIO-TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
providing social needs and value
system
Policy
Industry
Energy
system
Food
system
Ecosystem
services
Environmental externalities
system
system
Mobility
system
Market
Values
Deposits Emissions Pollution
Science
Technology

26. Conclusions
Use of our water resources, marine and freshwater, must respect ecological boundaries to achieve 2050 visions of sustainability
Policy visions for economic growth must be aligned with policy targets for securing healthy and clean European waters
Achieving these visions are possible but depends on our actions and investments today including continued cooperation among stakeholders

27. New EEA water reports
State of Europe’s seas

28. Thank you Ronan.Uhel@eea.europa.eu
Sign up to receive EEA news, reports
and alerts on your areas of interest at
eea.europa.eu

29. Additional slides for information

30. The diversity of Europe’s regional seas
Future growth and the need for effective marine policy
These problems are serious. But there is every indication that our seas could come under further pressure. Our societies are planning on increasing their maritime activities and exploitation of the sea in a range of sectors: transport and tourism, oil and gas extraction, seabed mining, and offshore renewable energy production.
The EU’s Blue Growth strategy is an integrated plan that sees our marine environment as an engine of job creation and economic growth. In the coming years it will be crucial to ensure that this Blue Growth strategy is developed within sustainable limits, in a way that also guarantees the continued health of our marine ecosystems. It is the role of the MSFD to ensure sustainable use.
There is already some cause for hope as effective management does produce results. Take fisheries: the percentage of assessed European Atlantic fish stocks fished within or at their maximum sustainable yield has increased from 6% in 2005 to 39% in In the Baltic region, countries surrounding the Baltic Sea have agreed targets for reducing nutrient pollution to the sea which has reduced nutrient inputs by approximately 10% since This shows that targeted management efforts can greatly help.
We can add to this hope by building on the important first steps of the MSFD and strengthening it further.

31. Clean and undisturbed seas?
Fishing, agriculture, litter and invasive alien species
To these effects of climate change, we must also add a range of other pressures. Fishing is one such pressure. It is unquestionably placing strain on European fish stocks. In 2013, 39% of the assessed stocks were overfished in the North East Atlantic and adjacent waters while 88% of the assessed stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas were overfished. Off shore construction such as oil and gas infrastructure and wind turbines are adding further pressure.
Human activities on land are also impacting on our seas. Agricultural fertilisers used on European farms are washed into rivers and discharged into our seas, causing eutrophication, the pollution of the seas by nutrients. These nutrients uses up oxygen in the water, killing other species, and making parts of our seas into ‘dead zones’ without any dissolved oxygen. Eutrophication is a particular cause of concern in the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and parts of the North Sea.
Another land-based activity that is damaging our seas is litter. Increasing amounts of litter, mostly coming from land-based sources, are ending up in the oceans. Marine litter causes injuries and death to a range of marine wildlife, mainly through ingestion and entanglement. To help better understand this problem, the EEA has developed Marine LitterWatch (MLW), a smartphone application, which combines citizen engagement and modern technology. Citizens can download the MarineLitterWatch app and input data on the marine litter they encounter on beaches and coastlines across Europe. The aim is to empower citizen networks throughout Europe with MLW and help to improve our knowledge of marine litter issues. MLW will also support the European Clean-up day on the 10th May and the Commissioner´s call for citizens across Europe to get involved and take the future of their environment into their own hands.
Lastly alien invasive species in European waters are adding to the pressure on marine biodiversity. Almost 300 hundred new species have been reported in European seas in the new millennium.

32. Offshore wind capacity (EWEA 2011)
Expecting substantial maritime growth
Future growth and the need for effective marine policy
These problems are serious. But there is every indication that our seas could come under further pressure. Our societies are planning on increasing their maritime activities and exploitation of the sea in a range of sectors: transport and tourism, oil and gas extraction, seabed mining, and offshore renewable energy production.
The EU’s Blue Growth strategy is an integrated plan that sees our marine environment as an engine of job creation and economic growth. In the coming years it will be crucial to ensure that this Blue Growth strategy is developed within sustainable limits, in a way that also guarantees the continued health of our marine ecosystems. It is the role of the MSFD to ensure sustainable use.
There is already some cause for hope as effective management does produce results. Take fisheries: the percentage of assessed European Atlantic fish stocks fished within or at their maximum sustainable yield has increased from 6% in 2005 to 39% in In the Baltic region, countries surrounding the Baltic Sea have agreed targets for reducing nutrient pollution to the sea which has reduced nutrient inputs by approximately 10% since This shows that targeted management efforts can greatly help.
We can add to this hope by building on the important first steps of the MSFD and strengthening it further.
Offshore wind capacity (EWEA 2011)

33. Ecological status of Europe’s rivers - WFD 1st round
7 % high
36 % good
38 % moderate
13 % poor
5 % bad
Source: EEA 2012

34. Eco-industries have prospered despite the recession in Europe
Eco-industry value added
Eco-industry employment
Total EU GDP
Total EU employment
Source: Eurostat, 2014.

35. WFD – achieving good water status
Source: Commission Communication 2015 ‘The Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive: Actions towards the 'good status' of EU water and to reduce flood risks’.