Press releases

Boosting the use of homegrown renewable electricity is Europe’s best way to reduce its vulnerability to volatile international energy supplies and rising energy prices according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment published today.

Most EU Member States are on track to meet their 2020-2029 national emission reduction targets for key air pollutants, according to the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) monitoring check-up published today. Reducing ammonia emissions, however, remains a persistent challenge. The EEA has also updated its city air quality ranking, which focuses on long-term air quality exposure.

More than 300 rapid eradication actions have been carried out across the EU, with nearly two thirds proving successful — yet invasive alien species continue to spread and new introductions remain likely, shows a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today.

Average carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles or vans registered in Europe decreased significantly in 2025 compared to 2024, according to provisional data published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Broadening the range of proteins that Europe produces and consumes could strengthen food security, improve resilience, enhance competitiveness and reduce environmental pressures, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report. The benefits depend on treating protein diversification as a deliberate, long-term strategy.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) and its European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) today welcomed Ukraine as a cooperating country, extending the EEA's country network to 32 member and 8 cooperating countries across Europe.

From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, the vast majority of bathing waters in Europe met the European Union's most stringent ‘excellent’ bathing quality standards in 2025, according to the latest annual bathing water package published today. This represents 85% of Europe’s bathing sites, with 96% of all EU sites monitored meeting the minimum quality standards and only 1.5% rated as ‘poor'. These data also show that the overall quality of bathing waters across Europe has remained stable compared to the previous year.

Europe experiences record-breaking temperatures, severe floods, droughts and wildfires intensified by climate change. The European Environment Agency (EEA) published today three new products dedicated to climate resilience, to help decision-makers, communities and citizens understand and respond to the growing impacts of climate change.

Stepping up a circular economy offers the European Union the potential for significant positive impacts on Europe’s environment and poses an untapped and strategic economic opportunity in terms of better access to materials and the creation of new businesses. Three new assessments on circularity, published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA), also stress the need to accelerate investment in circularity efforts to meet EU climate and environment policy targets.

What is the relationship between nature and society? That is the key theme of this year’s European Environment Agency (EEA) 2026 photo competition ‘Resilient by Nature’ launched today, which invites citizens across Europe to capture the many ways nature sustains life, responds to pressures and recovers in a changing world.

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes Europe's economy, it will either accelerate our green ambitions or undermine them. Two new European Environment Agency (EEA) briefings explore how deliberate policy steering can ensure a double dividend and how the trade-offs in deploying these technologies can be navigated at a time when environmental pressures must fall.

Most air quality monitoring stations in Europe achieve current EU legal standards for key air pollutants. However, the levels of key pollutants — like particulate matter, benzo(a)pyrene and especially ground-level ozone — remain a significant problem, according to the latest air quality assessments published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Turning Europe’s circular economy ambitions into reality will depend on making it people-focused — in particular — making sure European Union rules in place work to make it a success for entrepreneurs, business owners, citizens and workers alike, according to two assessments published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today.

The European Union's greenhouse gas emissions fell a further 3% between 2023 and 2024, bringing the EU’s total emission reductions to 40% below 1990 levels, according to official EU data sent to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis published today. The EU greenhouse gas inventory was prepared and submitted to the UN body by the EEA on behalf of the EU on 15 April.

One in three habitats protected under EU law depends on low-intensity grazing. According to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today, 10–15% of all EU cattle, sheep and goats are needed to maintain habitats  protected under the EU Habitats Directive through low-intensity grazing.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) and its European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) today welcomed the Republic of Moldova as a cooperating country, extending the EEA’s country network to 32 member and 7 cooperating countries across Europe. The EEA is one of the first EU agencies to integrate Moldova into its regular activities and operational structures.

Climate-resilient agriculture can help maintain productivity and stabilise farm incomes—while safeguarding food security and the ecosystem in Europe. Strategic investment and stronger governance are needed to support farms’ transition, shows an EEA briefing published today.

The introduction of the EU’s second ‘cap and trade’ emissions trading system (ETS2) for the road transport and buildings sectors will help spur Europe’s decarbonisation ambitions, accelerating the shift to cleaner fuels and technologies. Providing early financial support to vulnerable households and businesses, policy coherency, strong public backing, transparency and clear communication will be key to its success, according to two European Environment Agency (EEA) briefings published today.

Reducing pollution, in line with the EU Zero Pollution action plan, could improve mental health across Europe, according to an EEA briefing published today. The publication covers the links between air pollution, noise and chemical pollution to mental health issues, as well as opportunities for action – including the positive effects of nature-based solutions on mental wellbeing.

Emissions from energy-intensive industries in Europe have fallen sharply over the past two decades, but progress has stalled and the health-related costs of pollution remain high, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing. Further reductions will require deeper industrial transformation, alongside full implementation of existing EU environmental legislation.

Transport remains Europe’s most persistent climate challenge. While rail offers a low-emission alternative for moving people and goods, Europe’s continued reliance on road transport is keeping greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions high, according to a report published today by the European Environment Agency.

Despite an ice-cold winter with more snow this year, climate change is having a dramatic impact on Europe’s snow cover which is in steady decline. Meanwhile tectonic shifts at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in Iceland have seen dramatic changes to the landscape there due to volcanic eruptions, which is just one example of how the ground continues to shift across Europe. These are the some of the issues raised in the first two data-driven ‘snapshot’ stories launched today by the European Environment Agency, which aim to highlight the value of data and imagery available through the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS).

Europeans are very concerned about extreme heat and other impacts of climate change like wildfires according to the results of a Europe-wide survey published today.  It found that many citizens were also underprepared to deal with the increasing frequency and magnitude of heatwaves, flooding, or water shortages in their own homes.

Climate-proofing the agriculture, energy and transport sectors would help avoid billions of euros in losses from the accelerating extreme weather events related to climate change. At the same time, it would increase Europe’s competitiveness, according to a briefing published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Despite progress in key areas, the European Union (EU) remains likely off track for most 2030 environmental goals, according to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) new 8th EAP assessment. Rising climate risks, slow transitions in production and consumption system and weakening enabling conditions highlight the urgent need for stronger, better financed and faster policy implementation.