The objective of the Environment Theme (according to FP7 Specific Programme for 'Cooperation') is to promote sustainable management of the natural and human environment and its resources by advancing our knowledge on the interactions between the biosphere, ecosystems and human activities, and developing new technologies, tools and services, in order to address in an integrated way global environmental issues. Emphasis will be put on prediction of climate, ecological, earth and ocean systems changes, on tools and on technologies for monitoring, prevention and mitigation of environmental pressures and risks including on health and for the sustainability of the natural and man-made environment.
In 2009, the overarching priority of the Environment Theme was "adaptation to climate and environmental change and related issues such as sustainable cities and coastal zones". In 2010, the aim is to continue supporting the main environmental policy and S&T drivers in the area of climate and environmental change, their consequences and the link to other sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture etc. Furthermore, the goal is to address concretely some new policy drivers such as European Economic Recovery Plan, The Energy-Climate Package as well as the Renewed Lisbon Agenda by taking into account the Strategic Agenda of the Community Lisbon Programme (CLP) (2008-2010) particularly the '10 key objectives' including sustainable consumption and production, renewable energies and low-carbon and resource-efficient products in order to enhance the development and uptake of environment friendly technologies and services.
In the current context of economic insecurity and the emerging and increasing competition for natural resources and environmental services, the aim of the WP2010 is to address 'Environmental safety and welfare' as an overarching theme for all activities across the work programme 2010.
The objective would be, through research, to contribute to assessing, reducing and preventing tensions and conflicts related to the depletion of natural resources and environmental services which are arising due to rapid environmental changes and/or natural and man-made hazards. Tensions include the increasing competition at various levels (from regional to global) for natural resources and environmental services, the demographic pressures, the movement of populations searching better environmental conditions etc. These tensions and conflicts are expected to affect directly both developing and developed countries and their relations. Issues such as climate change, water scarcity, (re)-emergence and spread of diseases, depletion of marine resources, loss of biodiversity, increased intensity of natural disasters, and unsustainable urban development will be addressed and solutions be developed making use of all means including technologies, earth observation, modelling and socio-economic research approaches and involvement of policy makers.
