European Union Agricultural Policy and Practice: The New Challenge of Climate Change

Abstract

Climate change has been identified as a new challenge for EU agricultural policy which must be addressed as a matter of priority. The importance of climate-friendly agricultural practices in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions already receives some recognition under the current legislative framework; and the proposed regulations for the period 2014–2020, issued in October 2011, indicate that this importance will be considerably enhanced. Such practices will be examined with specific reference to: cross-compliance obligations attached to direct payments to farmers (under Pillar I of the CAP); more targeted rural development measures (under Pillar II of the CAP); and sustainability criteria in respect of feedstock for biofuels and bioliquids, as laid down by the Renewable Energy Directive. In addition, the article will consider two broader issues which each present an obstacle to any regulation in this area. The first issue is the inherent difficulty in creating a regime that is sensitive to the complexities and uncertainties which pervade the climate change debate, yet, at the same time, can be effective in practice. A second issue is the further inherent difficulty of finding in this context the appropriate balance between measures implemented under respectively Pillar I and Pillar II of the CAP, both Pillars having their apparent strengths and weaknesses.

The Mediating Effect of Sustainable Consumption Attitude on Association between Perception of Sustainable Lifestyle and Sustainable Consumption Practice

“…Sustainable consumption practices provide a variety of good effects, for instance, helping reduce economic costs and environmental impacts (Sox, Benjamin, Carpenter, & Strick, 2013). In fact, some research findings in North America, Europe and Australia show that positive human behaviors have benefited the environment (Bulkeley, 2000;Cardwell, 2011;Lorenzoni & Hulme, 2009;Palutikof, Agnew, & Hoar, 2004;Semenza et al, 2008). In addition, studies have shown that positive environmental changes also provide financial benefits (O'Connor, Bord, Yarnal, & Wiefek, 2002;Harrington, Curtis, & Black, 2008).…”

“…According to Wossink and Boonsaeng (2003), perception is important to be reviewed and become the basis for sustainable development strategies. While Cardwell (2011), explains that according to Litva and Eyles (1995), it is crucial for policymakers to determine how one's experience influences the perception of sustainable lifestyle thus associated with individual value systems and society. This explains that by defining the adolescent experience of the environment, this is seen to help achieve sustainability goals.…”

“…There are several examples of sustainable consumption practice that can be practiced by individuals. The positive practices include reducing energy consumption at home (Semenza et al, 2008), making compost and turn off lights (Cardwell, 2011). There are various inclinations of individuals to act in a sustainable way.…”

Uso dos recursos hídricos na expansão sucroenergética em áreas de bioma cerrado

“…Consuntivo quando, durante o uso, uma determinada quantidade de água é retirada dos mananciais e logo após a sua utilização, uma quantidade menor ou com qualidade inferior é retornada ao meio, ou seja, parte da água retirada é consumida durante seu uso. Não-consuntivo quando é extraída uma parte de água dos mananciais e, depois de utilizada, é devolvida a esses mananciais a mesma quantidade e com a mesma qualidade, ou ainda nos usos em que a água serve só como veículo para certa atividade, ou seja, a água não é consumida durante seu uso (CARDWELL et al, 2010).…”