Key air pollutant emissions decline across the EU, reducing ammonia is the biggest challenge
Key air pollutant emissions targeted for reductions and monitored under EU legislation continued to decline across most EU Member States according to the latest data assessment published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today. However, reducing ammonia emissions remains a problem. In 2022, 16 Member States met their...
EU’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped last year, but accelerated efforts still needed to meet ambitious 2030 targets
Now that the bulk of EU climate and energy legislation under the ‘Fit for 55 package’ is in place, the EU and its Member States are working to deliver on the targets, according to Trends and projections in Europe 2023 report which details progress made. As greenhouse gas emissions returned to a downward...
European bathing water quality in 2022
Quality of European bathing waters remains high Bathing water quality in Europe has improved markedly in recent decades. Systematic monitoring and management introduced under the Bathing Water Directive (BWD) (EU, 2006), large investments in urban wastewater treatment plants and improvements in wastewater networks have led to a...
Enabling consumer choices for a circular economy
Establishing an EU circular economy calls for a transformation of Europe’s production/consumption systems. Production systems respond to and shape consumer demand through the products offered and how they are marketed. Informed consumer choices can potentially shape decisions made by producers upstream and downstream in product supply...
Imagining sustainable futures for Europe
A co-creation project of the EEA and its country network Eionet Achieving a sustainable Europe will require far-reaching societal change, engaging all areas of the economy and society. Faced with this complex governance challenge, Europe’s governments and societies are increasingly looking to foresight approaches to explore possible...
Clean water is life, health, food, leisure, energy…
Water covers more than 70 % of Earth’s surface. It was in water that life on Earth started, so it is not surprising that all living things on our blue planet need water. Water is in fact many things: it is a vital need, a home, a local and global resource, a transport corridor and …...
Europe shouldn’t be afraid of leading the world on environmental regulation
Over the past 40 years Europe has developed the most comprehensive, ambitious and binding environmental legislation existing anywhere today. And with good reason: these standards should be seen as a unique economic advantage. Well-designed and well-implemented environmental legislation has improved the environment and quality of life, as...
