About the European Environment Agency’s Report “Quality of Life in Cities”.

The European Environment Agency, based in Copenhagen and headed by Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, is the EU body in charge of collecting, analyzing and disseminating information concerning the built and natural environment. It has a staff of some 200 professionals.

One of its main technical asset is the wealth of data gathered by the European Satellite Agency. Land cover observations for example are today so precise that they could among other things replace land surveys on the ground. Control of subsidised agriculture activities, land consumption by agro-fuels, urban development, deforestation, melting of glaciers, air and water pollution, co2 emissions, ships downloading, energy use and bio-diversity are all part of its remit.

As VP of its Scientific Committee, in charge of land questions, I am pleased to present hereafter an information flyer about the latest EEA monthly report, devoted to “Quality of Life in Cities”.

The full report can be downloaded free of charge (www.eea.europa.eu), like all EEA reports and publications, including earlier reports on urban sprawl (10/2006) and transport subsidies (3/2007).

Pierre Laconte, President.