Despite geopolitical challenges, Europe is succeeding in meeting its environmental goals, according to the latest research report published by the European Environment Agency. However, there are significant differences among sectors. While the decarbonization of industry is progressing rapidly, mobility or agriculture are lagging behind.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) on Monday, 29 September, published its flagship product on the state of Europe′s environment. The report provides decision-makers at the European, national, regional and local levels, as well as the general public, with a comprehensive and cross-cutting assessment of the environment, climate and sustainability in Europe.
Europe’s Environment 2025 draws on the latest scientific evidence and is underpinned by the most comprehensive data on the environment, climate and sustainability available in Europe. The data come from 38 countries (EU and non-EU), and have been quality-assured and validated by the EEA.
The fastest-warming continent
The report stresses that Europe is the fastest-warming continent, making the fight against climate change a top priority. The global warming keeps threatening security, public health, ecosystems, infrastructure and the economy. The consequences include increasingly frequent catastrophic floods in recent years. As an example, floods in Spain’s region of Valencia claimed over 250 lives in 2024.
Southern Europe, in particular, is plagued by water scarcity and wildfires. Droughts impact food production, the energy sector and public water supply. Extreme heat is becoming more frequent, with deadly consequences. Over 70,000 people in Europe are estimated to have died from heat in 2022. Over 240,000 fatalities have been caused by weather- and climate-related extreme events between 1980 and 2023 in the EU.
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Electrification is central
Regarding industry, there has been a significant progress in the EU′s industrial system. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) fell by more than 35 per cent from 2005 to 2023. Further decarbonisation will require large-scale electrification, a switch to hydrogen for certain industrial processes, and the substitution of fossil fuel-based materials with renewable materials.
Industry still remains a major contributor to air pollution and the costs of industrial pollution are substantial. — Europe’s Environment 2025 report
Cuts in air emissions from industry have been driven by decades of pollution control legislation, as well as decarbonisation measures. Nevertheless, industry remains a major contributor to air pollution and the costs of industrial pollution are substantial.
To achieve further gains, a deeper industrial transformation entailing the deployment of more advanced, innovative techniques and circularity measures offer promising synergies between decarbonisation, zero pollution, and resource efficiency.
Dirty water
Europe′s water resources are under severe pressure. Water stress currently affects 30 per cent of Europe’s territory and 34 per cent of the population. Only 37 per cent of Europe’s surface water bodies had a good or high ecological status in 2021. The degradation of aquatic ecosystems threatens Europe′s water resilience.
Agriculture is responsible for the most significant pressure on both surface and groundwater. Fertiliser and pesticide runoff degrade water quality, promoting excessive algae growth, deplete oxygen levels and drive the loss of aquatic life.
Clean water is crucial for ecosystems and human health. It is a vital resource for agriculture and industry, as well as energy infrastructure and inland transport. The security and supply of clean water is affected by pollution, over-abstraction and physical changes to water bodies. Climate change is only exacerbating these issues. Maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems, protecting watersheds and ensuring
that groundwater resources are replenished is crucial to ensuring Europe′s future water resilience.
Mobility, agriculture too slow
Mobility in Europe is dominated by vehicular transport. Passenger cars responsible for more than 75 per cent of transport activity in Europe. The sector remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels. While emissions from the transport sector have decreased, the change has only been marginal over the last decade. In 2023 GHG emissions from domestic transport were only six per cent below the 2005 level.
GHG emissions from the transport sector have decreased only marginally over the last decade. — Europe’s Environment 2025 report
Similarly, GHG emissions from agriculture only decreased modestly, with a seven per cent reduction since 2005. Agriculture accounts for 93 per cent of EU ammonia emissions to air and is the main driver of pollinator decline and soil degradation. As such, it undermines the very ecosystem services upon which it depends.
