Ministers and citizens debate urban environment 22-05-2006 EU Environment Ministers, civil society representatives, non-governmental
organisations, local authorities and MPs debated environmental issues on 19 and
20 May. The aim was to listen to citizens and to take account of their
environmental concerns. At the centre of the discussions were environmental
technology and urban ecology.
According to the Austrian Environment Minister Josef Pröll new environmental
technologies, such as technologies aimed at reducing and controlling air
pollution, managing energy and technologies reducing dependence on fossil fuels,
can make a major contribution to improving the urban environment.
The EU sees huge potential in environmental technologies. In its thematic
strategy on the urban environment the European Commission asserts that by
investing in environmental technologies the environment can be improved, whilst
creating jobs and stimulating economic development. “Innovative environmental
technologies can make a major contribution to all these goals - they may
generate 3.5 million jobs at the EU - and improve quality of life in European
cities.”
Because of these potential benefits, the discussion of the European action
plan for environmental technology will continue. The European Commission intends
to present a new report on this topic in June.
LinksSource: European Information ServiceSource: EU PresidencyThematic Strategy on the Urban Environment back |
