By 2025 the world’s population is expected to have grown to 8 billion people, with more and more people in China, India, Brazil and elsewhere claiming their rights to attain the same standards of living as the inhabitants of OECD countries. As the world economy is growing, so is the use of resources – be it oil, gas, metals, minerals, wood, water or land. The challenge is to ensure sustainable access to and use of resources without causing environmental problems that disrupt supply-chains, hamper important eco-systems, cause dangerous climate change or negatively affect biodiversity.

The EU is currently among the most environmentally sustainable regions in the world, not least because many European companies are market leaders in eco-friendly products and solutions. The environmental challenges therefore also present global market opportunities for European companies. But this requires smart policies which foster the global competitiveness especially of European industry.

Due to these challenges and opportunities and due to the EU’s far-ranging competences in environmental affairs, BUSINESSEUROPE is very active on most climate and environmental policy areas.

EU policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as the Emission Trading Scheme, renewable energy policy, Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and post-2012 international action. For European companies it is essential to operate in a predictable EU policy framework, which integrates climate protection, energy security as well as competitiveness concerns. Read more

Sustainable management of natural resources, biodiversity loss, air quality or management of waste and hazardous substances. Companies have always played a major role for improvements in environmental performance and they will remain the primary source for innovation required to reconcile environmental protection and economic growth. Read more