European Union emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) declined for the third consecutive year in 2007, according to the EU's GHG inventory report compiled by the European Environment Agency. The EU-27's overall domestic emissions were 9.3 % below 1990 levels, which equalled a drop of 1.2 % or 59 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared to 2006. The EU-15 now stands 5 % below its Kyoto Protocol base year levels. Its target is to have reduced emissions by 8% below 1990 levels between 2008-2012.

L. Reijnders (2009): Are forestation, bio-char and landfilled biomass adequate offsets for the climate effects of burning fossil fuels?, Energy Policy Volume 37, Issue 8, Pages 2839-2841. Forestation and landfilling purpose-grown biomass are not adequate offsets for the CO2 emission from burning fossil fuels. Their permanence is insufficiently guaranteed and landfilling purpose-grown biomass may even be counterproductive.

This guide, published in May 2009, describes why the sustainability of food is important, provides guidance on what hospitals can do to improve the sustainability of the food they provide to patients, staff and visitors, and advises on how hospitals can assure the sustainability of their food service provision. The guide provides practical guidance, signposting and uses case study examples to illustrate some of the initiatives currently being taken by the health sector.