Indicators

The average nitrate concentration in European Union groundwaters did not change significantly from 2007 to 2023. The number of groundwater monitoring stations in 2016-2019 with nitrate concentrations greater than 50mg/l also remains largely unchanged compared to the reference period 2012-2015. Further, results from a high ambition model scenario show that potential nutrient load reductions are substantial, but still below the 2030 target. Currently, it remains unlikely that the trend is sufficient to achieve EU obligations or the 50% nutrient loss reduction target.

A key goal of the European Union waste policy is to cut the amount of waste sent to landfill. Europe's overall landfill rate has decreased from 23% to 17% between 2010 and 2022, yet the total amount of waste generated has continued to increase. Landfilled waste quantities in 2022 were 21% lower in the same period, equivalent to 306kg of waste per year by each EU citizen. For some waste streams, such as (mixed) household and similar waste, relatively good progress has been made towards diverting waste from landfill. However, the amount of sorting residues sent to landfill has doubled since 2010.

Nutrient conditions in European surface waters have improved in recent decades. Average concentrations of nitrate and phosphate in rivers and total phosphorus in lakes have decreased. The decrease in nutrient concentrations is mainly related to improvements in wastewater treatment and the reduction of phosphorus in detergents. However, there has been a clear tendency for surface water concentrations to level off in recent years, in particular phosphorus in rivers. There has been little change in groundwater nitrate concentration in the past few decades.

The land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector plays a key role in achieving the EU’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050. LULUCF activities removed net 198 million tonnes of CO 2 equivalent (MtCO 2 e) from the atmosphere in 2023, equal to 6% of the EU’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. Removals are estimated to have increased to 212MtCO 2 e in 2024. The LULUCF Regulation set an EU-level net removal target of 310MtCO 2 e by 2030. Based on Member States’ projections, the current implemented and planned measures will not suffice to meet the target, requiring renewed efforts and further policies to enhance Europe’s carbon sink.

Promoting sustainable transport modes like public transport can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental pressures such as air pollution and noise. The EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy underlines the importance of public passenger transport in greater transport sustainability. The share of buses and trains in total passenger transport has changed very little since 2005, with some fluctuation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shifting more people to public transport still requires decisive action and a break from long-standing habits.

Promoting sustainable freight transport modes such as trains and shipping by inland waterways can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental pressures. The EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy underlines the importance of a shift towards greener freight transport. However, the share of train and inland waterways in Europe's total freight transport peaked in 2012 and has been declining since. Achieving a modal shift towards greener freight transport will require decisive action and a change in long-standing trends.

Pesticides were assessed against effect or quality thresholds between 2013 and 2023. Following an update to the methodology, one or more pesticides were detected above their effect threshold at 19% to 27% of river water bodies. Exceedances were often caused by MCPA , terbuthylazine , imidacloprid and metolachlor . Exceedances of one or more pesticides were detected at between 11% and 18% of groundwater bodies, mainly by atrazine and its metabolites, glyphosate and bentazone . Differences in weather, crop type and reporting mean that changes between years may not be significant.

Conversion of natural land to artificial surfaces continues to undermine ecological functions and weaken ecosystem resilience. The EU Member State average net land take increased by about 32% in cities and their commuting zones, from 410km²/year during 2012-2018 to 540km²/year in 2018-2021. Most conversions affected cropland and pastures, followed by forests. Achieving the EU's goal of no net land take by 2050 will require major reductions amid ongoing urban expansion. However, given the upward trend observed between 2012 and 2021, Europe is currently likely off track to meet this target.

Conserving genetic diversity of livestock is essential for the resilience of agricultural ecosystems and biodiversity. Local livestock breeds, well-adapted to local conditions, contribute to food security and preserve genetic diversity for the future. In 2024, over 80% of local breeds with known status were at risk of extinction in the European Union. Only seven countries report more than 25% of local breeds with known status as not at risk in Europe. The status of many breeds is still unknown. This highlights the pressing need for targeted policy actions, increased monitoring, research and awareness raising.

Europe is facing more and stronger climate hazards, including heatwaves and prolonged droughts. Drought conditions were drier-than-average in eastern/south-eastern Europe during 2024. Around 600,000 km 2 of the European Union was exposed to below 2000-2020 average soil moisture levels. In response, vegetation productivity did not recover to the 2000-2020 baseline condition in almost 160,000km 2 of south-eastern Europe and Mediterranean regions. Without effective implementation of global climate mitigation as well as EU and national climate adaptation strategies and plans, the impacts of prolonged drought are likely to further increase.

Global mean sea level (GMSL) has risen at an accelerating rate, by approximately 23cm since 1900. GMSL reached its highest value ever in 2024. GMSL will likely rise by 0.28-0.55m under a very low emissions scenario (SSP1-1.9) and 0.63-1.02m under a very high emissions scenario (SSP5-8.5) by 2100, relative to the 1995-2014 average. GMSL simulations that include the possibility of fast disintegration of the polar ice sheets project a rise of up to 5m by 2150. Most coastal regions in Europe have experienced an increase in sea level relative to land, except for the northern Baltic Sea coast.

Arctic sea ice is rapidly declining. On average, the Arctic has lost an area of 71,000km 2 of sea ice per year in summer and 31,000km 2 per year in winter since 1979. The Arctic sea ice area for summer 2025 was the second lowest ever and sea ice is becoming younger and thinner. An almost ice-free Arctic sea in summer is projected to be a rare event for 1.5°C of global warming but will be the norm for 2.5°C warming. Since about 1800, the maximum sea ice extent in the Baltic Sea shows a decreasing trend, and reached its lowest value ever in the winter of 2019/20. This decreasing trend is projected to continue.

The European Commission's Zero Pollution Action Plan (ZPAP) aims to reduce the area of ecosystems affected by eutrophication due to nitrogen deposition by 25% by 2030. This indicator monitors the progress towards this target. Between 2005 and 2023, the area of ecosystems at risk of eutrophication due to nitrogen deposition in the EU-27 Member States reduced by almost 14%. Initiatives such as the National Emission reduction Commitments Directive, Farm to Fork strategy and Biodiversity strategy for 2030 are key frameworks to further reduce the risk of eutrophication in ecosystems.

Weather- and climate-related extremes caused economic losses of assets estimated at EUR 822 billion during 1980 - 2024 in the European Union, with over EUR 208 billion (25%) between 2021 and 2024. Analysing trends in economic losses is challenging, primarily due to large annual variability. Statistical analyses revealed that economic losses increase over time and the last four years are all in the top five years of the highest annual economic losses since 1980. As severe weather- and climate-related extreme events are expected to intensify further, associated economic losses will likely continue to increase.

Most emission allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) are auctioned. Revenues from these auctions are primarily distributed to countries covered by the ETS and dedicated European Union level funds. As carbon prices have increased significantly since 2017, so too have the revenues that EU Member States collect from the ETS auctions, growing from EUR 5 billion in 2017 to EUR 24 billion in 2024. This represents a significant decline compared with the EUR 33 billion recorded in 2023.

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 in 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.