Europe`s environmental balance sheet
Pollution kills Europeans than any other factor does. Poor air quality affects crops, ecosystem and children's health; threatens some 700 European species including iconic species such as the Iberian lynx and the snow leopard. Particulate matter and ground-level ozone caused 380,000 premature deaths in 2000
Most air pollutants have increased in the Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (eecca) region by more than 10 per cent since 2000 due to economic growth, increase in vehicles and the lack of effective anti-pollution policies
In the European Union production of toxic chemicals has increased at almost the same rate as total chemical production; both have grown faster than the gdp of the region
Added pressure on the environment from agriculture, tourism, and transport reduces average life expectancy by at least a year in Western and Central Europe (wce)
The impacts of tourism are projected to grow as a result of increasing affluence and lifestyle and demographic changes. Impacts: 100 major floods in past five years; water stress for a third of Europe; high energy consumption, more greenhouse gas emissions; over 100 million people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation
Many countries in eecca and Southeast Europe (see) have low-quality water supply and poor sanitation over the past 15 years. The rural population is most affected
Over-fishing and eutrophication