There are countless environmental projects going on now in Europe, and many people are becoming active about environmental issues.

After the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972, environmental awareness greatly increased.  Western Europe proceeded to begin dealing with some of the environmental projects it was facing.  However, Eastern Europe was slower to respond to the call for action.

Western Europe tends to have greater public participation on environmental issues.  But in all regions of Europe, governments, non-governmental organizations, and the public are working for a cleaner environment.

The European Union has set many environmental standards that member states must follow.  These guidelines have also affected other countries, such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Slovak Republic, which would like to join the EU.

The EU has devised a large amount of environmental legislation intended to regulate both governments and societies throughout Europe.  Countries have come together to attempt to solve their environmental problems, and to make sure that all member nations follow the EU's policies.

Central and Eastern Europe still lack strong environmental policy agendas.  These areas have fewer laws than other European countries, and tend to enforce their environmental laws less.

Some of these countries are beginning to clean up their environments with tax money taken from polluters.  In Poland and the Czech Republic, this money is being used effectively to advance environmental goals.