15. Stresses the need for Member States to use rural development funds to enhance adaptation to climate change in agriculture and forestry; recalls the role that soil organic matter plays in terms of soil fertility and water retention capacity and as a carbon sink and invites the Community to adopt and support appropriate soil management practices that maintain soil organic matter levels across European soils as an effective way for adapting to increasing temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns; underlines the need for adequat ...[+++]e crisis prevention and risk management measures at the Community level as well as at national and regional levels, as the number of crises will clearly rise in the future, with particular reference to a systematic land management effort ensuring longer water retention times and a lower fire burden on forests; believes that risk management should be made an integral and explicit part of EU cohesion policy;

15. Stresses the need for Member States to use rural development funds to enhance adaptation to climate change in agriculture and forestry; recalls the role that soil organic matter plays in terms of soil fertility and water retention capacity and as a carbon sink and invites the Community to adopt and support appropriate soil management practices that maintain soil organic matter levels across European soils as an effective way for adapting to increasing temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns; underlines the need for adequat ...[+++]e crisis prevention and risk management measures at the Community level as well as at national and regional levels, as the number of crises will clearly rise in the future, with particular reference to a systematic land management effort ensuring longer water retention times and a lower fire burden on forests; believes that risk management should be made an integral and explicit part of EU cohesion policy;

environment, including investments connected with water supply and water and waste management; waste-water treatment and air quality; prevention, control and fight against desertification; integrated pollution prevention and control; aid to mitigate the effects of climate change; rehabilitation of the physical environment, including contaminated sites and land and brownfield redevelopment; promotion of biodiversity and nature protection, including investments in NATURA 2000 sites; aid to SMEs to promote sustainable production patterns through the introdu ...[+++]ction of cost-effective environmental management systems and the adoption and use of pollution-prevention technologies.

(6 ) Environment, including investments connected with waste management, water management and quality , including security of water supplies, implementing Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy , urban waste-water treatment and air quality, integrated pollution prevention and control, elimination of contaminated waste dumps and rehabilitation of contaminated sites and land, promotion of biodiversity and nature protection, promotion of the development of infrastructure to implement Natura 2000, aid to SMEs to promote sustainable p ...[+++]roduction patterns through the introduction of cost-effective environmental management systems and the adoption and use of pollution-prevention technologies;

For workers, working life is becoming more complex as working patterns become more diverse and irregular and an increasing number of transitions need to be managed successfully throughout the lifecycle.

In this context it should be recalled that Agenda 21 calls notably for a fundamental transition from the wasteful consumption patterns of the past to new consumption patterns based on efficiency and concern for the future, for an environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals and waste, for improved human health and more generally for a greater participation by all the sectors of society in all stages of policy development and implementation.