Indicators

Eutrophication in marine, coastal and estuarine ecosystems, caused by human activities that introduce excess nutrients into water, lead to harmful effects. To address this, Europe adopted an integrated strategy to reduce inputs. Nutrient levels have significantly declined between 1980 and 2023, yet eutrophication remains a significant problem in the Baltic, Black and Greater North Seas and some coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Over 91-94% of the assessed time-series show no significant change. Progress has been made to reduce nutrient inputs, specifically nitrogen, yet more effort is necessary for phosphorus.

Chlorophyll-a concentrations, a key indicator of ocean health, reveal mixed trends across Europe's marine regions. Assessments show improvements in some critical areas such as the Kattegat Strait and Northwest of Ireland post-2000. More areas are improving than declining in the Greater North Sea and the Black Sea, while the Baltic Sea displays a near balance in trends. Notably, over 95% of the assessed locations show no significant change. These findings highlight the need for ongoing efforts to improve monitoring and mitigate the risk of eutrophication amid a changing climate.

The occurrence of reduced oxygen levels in near-seafloor waters is increasing, owing mainly to a combination of natural causes and human-induced pressures, including excess nutrient inputs and climate change. Around 18% of assessed areas reveal reduced concentrations (<6mg/l), below the level needed to support marine life with minimal stress. The Baltic and Black seas are most affected, with over 33% of assessed areas falling below this level. Oxygen depletion can severely impact marine life and disrupt ecosystems, leading to significant environmental and socio-economic consequences.

Hazardous substances are polluting Europe's seas, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Nine hazardous substances were assessed in mussels and oysters between 2010 and 2022. Exceedance of safe limits was observed for benzo[a]pyrene, lindane (y-HCH), and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB). Available time trends show that regions with improving (decreasing) concentrations are more prevalent than deteriorating ones. Therefore, further actions are essential to meeting the targets outlined in both the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Zero Pollution Action Plan.

Almost one quarter of human-caused carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions are absorbed by oceans, resulting in ocean acidification, i.e. a decrease in the ocean water pH. Ocean acidity has increased by approximately 30% since the pre-industrial era, corresponding to a pH decline of about 0.1 units. Further decreases in pH are projected in the future. Seawater pH has decreased from 8.11 in 1985 to 8.04 in 2024. Ocean acidification has impacts on marine organisms with its effects cascading throughout the food web, modifying ecosystem services like fisheries.

Air pollution poses the greatest environmental risk to health in Europe. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) causes more premature deaths in Europe than any other air pollutant. Despite improving trends in air pollution for both the richest and poorest regions of the European Union over the 2007-2022 period, inequalities remain with PM 2.5 concentrations consistently higher by around one third in the poorest regions.

Emissions from large combustion plants in the EU have decreased since 2004: sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and dust by 94% and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) by 73%. Declines in emissions and improvements in environmental performance were largely driven by European policy, setting legally binding emission limit values. Fossil fuel usage decreased by 41% as energy production shifted to climate-friendly sources and coal no longer the primary fuel in large combustion plants. Stricter emission limit values and policies aimed at increasing the use of renewable or cleaner fuels are expected to drive further declines in combustion plant emissions in coming years.

Between 2010 and 2023, industrial releases to Europe’s water bodies of pollutants damaging to human health and the environment declined overall. Releases of heavy metals declined until 2016 with a stagnating trend thereafter. Emissions of nitrogen, which cause eutrophication, declined to a lesser extent. The economic value of industry increased by almost 20%, in line with the EU policy objective of supporting industrial growth while decreasing industrial emissions. However, data gaps make it difficult to assess industry’s contribution to overall water pollution in Europe.

Industrial releases of air pollutants damaging to human health and the environment decreased between 2010 and 2023 in Europe. Emissions of greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), sulphur oxides (SO x )), and other pollutants (e.g. nitrogen oxides (NO x ), particulate matter (PM 10 ) and heavy metals) all declined significantly. The value that industry generated for the European economy during this period increased, and therefore brings an increase in efficiency in terms of the ratio of emissions generated and the value output of the sector.

Green bonds are used to finance activities that support climate and environmental objectives. Green bonds reached 6.9% of all bonds issued by corporations and governments across the European Union in 2024, an improvement from the 5.3% noted in 2023. This trend reflects a higher demand for financial products that support sustainability objectives. The issuance of green bonds is likely to increase, given the ambitious decarbonisation goals of the Competitiveness Compass and the European Green Deal.

Ground-level ozone adversely affects human health, vegetation and ecosystems across Europe. This leads to premature deaths, decreased crop yields and forest growth, and loss of biodiversity. In 2023, 12.5% of Europe’s agricultural lands were exposed to ozone levels above the threshold value set for the protection of vegetation in the EU’s Ambient Air Quality Directives. In addition, the long-term objective was not met in 90.8% of agricultural lands.

Employment in the EU’s environmental goods and services sector grew at a faster rate than the overall employment rate in the last decade. It increased from 2.02% of total employment in 2010 to 3.1% in 2022, with 6.67 million full-time equivalent employees in the sector. This was mainly due to the creation of jobs related to renewable energy, energy efficiency and waste management. The EU aims to accelerate the green transition of its economy and become carbon neutral by 2050. This is expected to boost jobs in the EU’s green economy in the coming years and further increase the share of green employment in the EU economy.

The environmental goods and services sector contribution to the European Union economy, in terms of value added, increased from 2.1% in 2010 to 3.3% in 2022, reaching EUR 601 billion in 2025 prices. This rise was mainly caused by significant increases in environmental economy activities related to renewable energy production, energy efficiency, and waste management. The EU aims to achieve a green transition and carbon-neutral economy by 2050. This requires further significant increases in environmental economy activities.

All European seas have warmed considerably since 1870 and particularly since the late 1970s, with recent years been among the warmest on record. According to climate projections, sea surface temperature in European seas are expected to increase another 2-6°C by 2100 under the high emissions scenario. The frequency and magnitude of marine heatwaves have increased significantly both globally and in European seas. This is projected to continue, with increasing impacts on climate and ecosystems expected.

Global mean temperature between 2015 and 2024 was 1.24 to 1.28°C warmer than the pre-industrial level, which makes it the warmest decade on record. European land temperatures have increased even faster over the same period by 2.19 to 2.26°C, depending on the dataset used. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change member countries have committed to a global temperature increase limit well below 2°C above the pre-industrial level, and aim to limit the increase to 1.5°C. Without drastic cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions, the 2°C limit is likely to be exceeded before 2050.

The ecological status of European Union surface waters continues to decline, as reported, only 39.6% attained good status in 2021. Member States must urgently implement all measures to achieve a good ecological status to meet the Water Framework Directive’s 2027 deadline. The third River Basin Management Plans are the final opportunity to meet the Water Framework Directive’s objectives and deliver on the Water Resilience Strategy. Key opportunities to accelerate progress and foster synergies to amplify results across policies can be found through the Nature Restoration Regulation.

Environmental noise remains a significant problem in Europe. Over 20% of the population live in areas where transport noise levels are harmful to health when measured against thresholds established in the Environmental Noise Directive. Applying the stricter WHO recommendations increases this figure to over 30%. Road traffic is the main source of noise pollution in both urban and rural settings. A key commitment of the European Commission’s zero pollution ambition is to reduce the share of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 30% by 2030, compared with 2017.

Bathing water quality has improved over time based on tests for Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and intestinal enterococci bacteria. Between 2010 and 2024, the share of EU bathing waters classified as ‘excellent’ quality was within a range of 81-89% for coastal bathing waters and 60-82% for inland bathing waters. Consistently high shares of excellent bathing water quality indicate that the combined effect of the systematic monitoring and management of bathing sites, and improvements in wastewater networks and treatment have led to a drastic reduction in organic pollutants and pathogens.

Long-term exposure to noise from transport has negative effects on health. Based on data reported in 2022 under the Environmental Noise Directive, it is estimated that over 20 million people are highly annoyed and almost 7 million are highly sleep disturbed by long-term exposure to noise from transport. The European Union’s 2030 zero pollution target aims to reduce the share of people chronically disturbed by transport noise by 30%. A significant decline in the number of people highly affected by transport noise is required to achieve this.

Birds play an essential role in ecosystems and provide a variety of ecosystem services. They are sensitive to environmental change and good indicators of environmental health. Between 1990 and 2023, the index of 168 common birds decreased by 15% in the EU. The decline was much stronger in common farmland birds, at 42%, while the common forest bird index decreased by 4.5%. Currently, it seems unlikely that the decline in populations of common birds will be reversed by 2030. Member States need to strengthen the implementation of existing policies and put new conservation and restoration measures in place to ensure their recovery.