Fears are growing that the EU may be on the verge of scrapping crucial plans to clean up our polluted air and cut waste.
According to reports coming out of Brussels, some business organisations may be successful in lobbying the EU to drop these key areas of work – which are crucial for our health and the long-term efficiency of our economies.
Friends of the Earth Senior Economics and Resources Campaigner David Powell said:
“Protecting our health and scarce resources should be a central plank of EU policy-making – caving in to short-term, industry lobbying on these crucial issues would be shameful.
“If the EU’s vision of a new Europe isn’t long-term, green and focused on wiping out waste, it’s not fit for purpose in the 21st century.
“Mr Juncker must give the green light to desperately needed proposals which put people, the planet and our future economic health first – or face a backlash.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Europe awaits crunch decision on circular economy proposals.
2. Resource efficiency in danger of slipping off EU’s agenda, says Friends of the Europe chair Magda Stoczkiewicz | EU Observer.
3. The EU economy uses 16 tonnes of materials per person per year, of which 6 tonnes becomes waste, half of it going to landfill.
4. According to a 2012 study, if all EU waste legislation was fully implemented, Europe would save €72 billion a year, the turnover of the waste management and recycling sector would rise by €42 billion, and it would create 400,000 jobs by 2020.
5. It’s been estimated that 29,000 people die prematurely in the UK every year because of air pollution.
For press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
