Europe Day: Celebration of Europe's Good Habits
Happy Europe Day! Yes, it is a real celebratory day originally introduced by the EU in 1985. This is an environmental advocacy post, which is ironic enough considering Europe Day was created as a celebration of French and West German coal and steel industries pooling to make the European Coal and Steel Community, established in 1952. As we all know coal is not a renewable resource, nor is it easy to come across (with extraordinarily unhealthy extraction practices for the earth and all its inhabitants), most importantly the burning of this fossil fuel into our air is one of the most harmful actions humans subject our planet and biodiversity to. So why would we celebrate this unsustainable alliance!? Because, Europe has since got its shi*t together, and is at the forefront of sustainable development. Here is just a few examples of the environmental initiatives that come out of the Europe.
Bans on PLASTIC
January 1st 2011 Italy banned plastic bags, and phased them out with biodegradable options. France followed soon after in 2016, following the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference hosted in Paris, they began making efforts to reduce their country's waste. Although not a complete win, France's ban is only on thin plastic bags, or any bags meant to wrap fish or meat. The new rule is that stores must hand out sturdier plastic bags with an emblem on them which states that the bags are meant to be reused, and should only be recycled. The thought process here, is to reduce consumption instead of just getting rid of the harmful product all together. This is quite upsetting, but the effort is there especially since there are plans in place to start producing “domestically compostable bags made in full or in part from bio-sourced materials,” which will be used for fruit and vegetable packaging. Additionally, France has become the first nation in the world to place a ban on disposable plastic cups, plates, and cutlery. The new law will require these products are made with 50% biologically-source materials, and that percentage will rise to 60% by January 2025. This initiative is in conjunction with France's "Energy Transition for Green Growth Act." Throughout all of Europe, more and more nations are making reusable shopping bags more attractive, by making plastic ones more expensive. $$$ That's right, places like Ireland are imposing a plastic tax, which makes it much more affordable for people to bring their own bags, which encourages people reduce their consumption and reuse what they already have!
2. Bans on PETROL
In the past two years seven countries, of which five are European, have announced coming bans on petrol fueled vehicles. Norway's laws are strictest of them all. By 2025 100% of cars must be electric or plug in hybrids, and only these kinds of vehicles will be sold to the pubic. Additionally, by 2030 75% of buses, 50% of trucks (commercial/non-commercial), and 40% of short seas shipping boats will be zero emission vehicles as well. Germany is banning all combustion engine cars by 2030, and citizens will only be allowed to purchase electric or hydrogen-fueled vehicles. Germany has been a pioneer in the sustainable energy industry, with about 35% of their energy currently produced by renewables. They also plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in 2020, and by 95% in 2050. Go Germany go!! France is banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars in 2040. The UK is also banning all petrol vehicles by 2040, and have announced a $4 million dollar project to combat dirty air on public roads. Lastly, the Netherlands has plans to ban fossil-fueled cars by 2025.
3. The Swedish Recycling Revolution
Sweds recycle 99% of household waste, and import almost 3 million tonnes of waste from other countries. The reason they import waste, and the civilian population is so inclined to recycle themselves is because they turn up to 2.3 million tonnes of waste into energy! What can't be used for energy is sifted out, usually porcelain and tile, and turned into gravel for road construction. Talk about reduce reuse recycle!
4. Wildlife Crossings: Eco Ducts
At some point I'll find the right words to explain how important plants and animals, our biodiversity, is to our survival. I feel like I repeat it over and over, the air filtration services, the soil replenishing, the production of clean sources of drinking water for ALL animals and humans, and so much more I couldn't possibly fit into this blog. Some people truly don't understand how important wildlife survival is to our survival. At any rate, lets just assume we all understand why it is important to save the elephants and the whales etc. etc., and talk about how amazing Europe is for implementing animal crossings!
Roadkill is a huge problem here in America, especially where I am in New Jersey! I must see 2-3 dead animals on the side of the road every day on my commute. Cats, dear, possum, etc. To combat this problem, Europe implemented hundreds of wildlife crossing structures, known as eco-ducts, whereas America has very few. Most of these eco-ducts, sometimes refereed to as green bridges, were not originally designed for wildlife, they were old bridge structures. When they became obsolete, roads were built below them, and grass grew over these old bridges. They have been been very useful in restoring ecological activity back to a natural state, and have also improved road safety for drivers and animals alike. The Netherlands was one of the first countries to create a network of wildlife crossings across their landscape.
5. No Air-conditioning
No, this is not a joke! Europeans find American's need for air conditioning somewhat of an unhealthy addiction. It has been said that if everyone around the world was to adopt the American way of air conditioning usage, energy consumption would rise at least tenfold by 2050. In most European countries air conditioning is an unnecessary luxury, and has been quoted by Americans to be the ultimate con to moving to this eco-friendly country. According to Cambridge University Professor Gwyn Prins called America's addiction to air-conditioning the country's "most pervasive and least-noticed epidemic." Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency claims the demand for air conditioning has only increased in the past few decades. I know I'll be thinking twice before releasing harmful gasses into the air by switching on my air conditioning!
Europe can be viewed as somewhat of a guide for environmental initiatives going from simply talk, to real actionable change. On Europe Day let's celebrate their contributions to sustainable development! Thank you Europe, we deeply appreciate your efforts
xoxo from the Creator of Habits
~B
