FUTURE-ISSUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL-PROTECTION - A EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE

The report on 'Europe's Environment', published in 1995 by the Europea n Environment Agency, presents clear information on (a) the state of t he environment, (b) pressures stressing it, and (c) the human activiti es behind these issues. It sets the style for improved presentation of environmental management issues through the use of environmental indi cators. This will help the UK environmental manager to target policy a nd/or management response, and to view their issues whether at local, regional or national level - within a wider European and thereby globa l context. Key environmental problems for Europe are transport, land d egradation, diffuse pollution of water, loss of natural habitats, wast e production, and a range of local pressures - such as poor air qualit y - caused by conurbations. Future environmental management must be ca pable of integrated multi-media application, and should be applied at the most appropriate level, drawing on a range of approaches from 'top down' regulation through to a 'bottom up' commitment by individuals.