How do soils contribute to net-zero?
No soil, no Green Deal!
Soils are in the limelight: current political, economic and climate crises have prompted an unprecedented awareness about the importance of soil health for food security, climate and the biodiversity.
Analysis show that many soils are not healthy due to a range of degradational processes. These include erosion, pollution, poor waste management and intensive cultivation.
A novel soil health dashboard has been developed by the EU Soil Observatory of the Joint Research Centre. It highlights the location and extent of unhealthy soils in the EU, as well as the degradation processes behind them.
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) stand at the EU Green Week 2023 showcases various projects and approaches from several UN agencies to address the theme “Delivering a net-zero world.”
The UN stand encourages visitors to explore various environmental issues and solutions, through interactive elements such as a quiz and engaging audio-visual material that highlight some of the successful projects implemented in partnership with the EU.
Representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) will be present to engage with visitors.
EU Biodiversity: Natura 2000 network and the 3 Billion Trees Pledge
Come meet us and learn how the EU protects and enhances biodiversity thanks to the Natura 2000 Network of Protected Areas and our pledge to plant 3 billion additional trees by 2030.
CINEA, funding the EU Green Deal
CINEA has a key role in the implementation of EU programmes contributing to reach a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 under the EU Green Deal.
Pass by to know more about the LIFE programme, Innovation Fund, European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, Horizon Europe Transport, Energy and Climate, EU Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism Connecting Europe Facility Transport and Energy and the Public Sector Loan Facility under the Just Transition Mechanism.
Green Cities
The Commission supports two urban initiatives that focus on making our cities greener and healthier:
TheEuropean Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards are an established brand for excellence in sustainable urban cities. Each year, the titles are bestowed to frontrunner cities that perform high in key environmental areas: air quality, water quality, noise, waste and circular economy, and biodiversity, green areas and sustainable land use. The cities are also scrutinised for their transformation efforts towards climate neutrality and how to adapt to climate change. By applying for the Awards, cities can become EU flagships in the green transition.
By signing the Green City Accord, cities equip themselves to improve their fight against pollution in five key environmental indicator areas: air, water, circular economy / waste, noise, biodiversity.
To share our network's knowledge, we will offer a quiz about the European Green Capital & European Green Leaf cities.
We will also conduct live communication activities at the stand and on social media. You will be able to meet some of the award winning cities and hear directly from them the many added values to subscribe to the urban environment initiatives.
Knowledge and data to support Europe's environment and climate goals
How is the air quality where you live, what about noise levels or the number of green spaces and quality of the nearest bathing water sites? Now you can check the quality of the environment on one online platform, the EEA’s European environment and health atlas. Launched 3 May 2023, the atlas presents data and information in a user-friendly way on how pollution and other environmental risks affect the health and well-being of Europeans, and how environmental assets protect us.
The interactive online tool, a first on such a scale for all of Europe, allows users to visualise how the environment around them affects their health and well-being via set of detailed maps. It covers topics like air quality, noise and quietness, green and blue spaces and climate change throughout the member and collaborating countries of the EEA. Closely aligned by many EU policy targets, the atlas is one of the tools by prepared and published the EEA with the aim to support monitoring the European Union's zero pollution ambition.
Excellence in green skills
Since 9 May, the European Year of Skills is taking place and skills for the green transition are one of the Year’s central topics. At this stand, DG EMPL will present what the Year will offer and what its objectives are.
Three stakeholders (ETF, PoVE Water, FP Euskadi/TKNIKA) will showcase their inspiring practices from all over Europe and beyond on how to equip people with the skills to thrive in the green transition.
Sustainable consumption
The stand will showcase a wide array of European tools and initiatives that promote sustainable consumption and enable individuals to make more sustainable choices. Among others, we will present the EU Ecolabel, the official EU label for environmental excellence which certifies goods and services with reduced environmental impact.
Visitors will also learn about the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, which promotes a circular economy in the textile industry, and can join ReSet the Trend, a campaign to raise awareness about sustainable fashion. Additionally, we will highlight the recent Commission proposals on Green Claims, which aims to ensure that consumers can make informed and environmentally friendly choices when buying products, and on the Right to Repair, which will make it easier for consumers to repair rather than replace goods.
Finally, visitors will also be able to try the Consumption Footprint Calculator, to assess their environmental impact and make more conscious choices.