Damage to the environment has been growing steadily worse in recent decades. Every year, some 2 billion tonnes of waste are produced in the Member States, while CO2 emissions from our homes and vehicles are increasing, as is our consumption of "dirty" energy. The quality of life for people living in Europe, especially in urban areas, has declined considerably because of pollution and noise.
Protection of the environment is therefore one of the major challenges facing Europe. The European Community has been strongly criticised for putting trade and economic development before environmental considerations. It is now recognised that the European model of development cannot be based on the depletion of natural resources and the deterioration of our environment.
Environmental action by the Community began in 1972 with four successive action programmes, based on a vertical and sectoral approach to ecological problems. During this period, the Community adopted some 200 pieces of legislation, chiefly concerned with limiting pollution by introducing minimum standards, notably for waste management, water pollution and air pollution.…
