Publications

This report presents an overview of the progress achieved so far by the EU, its Member States and other EEA member countries towards their respective targets under the Kyoto Protocol and the EU burden-sharing agreement. The assessment is based on greenhouse gas emission data in Europe for 2008, the first year of the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period which runs from 2008 to 2012. The recent availability of 2009 emissions estimates for the EU and a limited number of countries broadens, in these cases, the basis of the assessment to two years of the five-year commitment period.

This report presents a first indicator-based assessment of Europe's progress towards its target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010. The Streamlining European 2010 Biodiversity Indicators (SEBI 2010) process was set up to streamline national, regional and global indicators and, crucially, to develop a simple and workable set of indicators to measure progress and help reach the 2010 target.

This Technical report contains individual assessments for each of the 26 SEBI 2010 indicators. These detailed assessments underpin the analysis, synthesis and policy implications contained in EEA Report 04/2009, entitled 'Progress towards the European 2010 biodiversity target'.

Waste prevention is the best waste management policy option, according to the waste hierarchy, the EU's main rule for the environmental ranking of waste management policies. This report aims to assess progress towards waste prevention measures' main objective of decoupling, scoping the EU as a whole by synthesising information from national waste prevention measures, targets, indicators and targeted waste streams.

An assessment of past emission projections reported by Member States under EU air pollution and GHG legislation

Protected areas today cover a relatively large part of Europe, with almost 21 % of the territory of EEA member countries and collaborating countries consisting of protected areas. In spite of this widespread presence of protected areas in all European countries, the topic has not received as much attention on a pan-European level as other environmental issues. We hope this report from the EEA „ the first we have compiled on the subject „ will go some way to redressing the balance. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of protected areas and aims to assist policymakers and the wider public in understanding the complexity of the current systems of protected areas.

Eastern Partnership countries show significant progress in expanding networks of nationally protected areas

Society depends on the satisfactory and sustainable management of water. This report considers three pieces of EU water legislation targeted at particular sectors: the Bathing Water Directive, the Drinking Water Directive and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, and looks at common issues in the context of the Water Framework Directive. A review of the implementation of each of the sectoral directives is provided.

Experiences from eight case studies across Europe

This report explores the historical trends, most recent progress and projected future progress on climate change mitigation through reduced GHG emissions, renewable energy gains and improved energy efficiency. It builds upon data reported by the EU-27 Member States, five EEA member countries and nine Contracting Parties of the Energy Community.

Quality of bathing water — 2008 bathing season

Annual summary report of bathing water quality in EU Member States.

Annual summary report of bathing water quality in EU Member States. Detailed data are available via EEA WISE bathing water site.

In May 2008, the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities captured the concerns and desires of urban policy‑makers and citizens in the title of its new European Urban Charter: Manifesto for a new urbanity. Like numerous other international and European charters, conventions and declarations, the manifesto describes with some apprehension the 'unprecedented environmental, democratic, cultural, social and economic challenges' facing urban centres and their inhabitants. Our report on quality of life in Europe's cities and towns reiterates these concerns but also unravels the many apparent paradoxes of urban development and the sometimes perplexing realities of urban Europe today. The report defines a vision for progress towards a more sustainable, well‑designed urban future.

Noise pollution is a major problem for Europe’s environment. Transport and industry are the main sources of concern and prolonged exposure can damage human health and adversely affect ecosystems. European legislation aims to reduce noise pollution and also highlights the need to preserve areas that are currently unaffected. These so called quiet areas are an important component of the European soundscape and may offer havens away from noise pollution. This report sets out to identify where these potential quiet areas might be and offers an insight into how they could benefit the human and wildlife populations that inhabit or benefit from the rural European soundscape that is currently unaffected by noise pollution.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (EU) increased by 0.6 % in 2017, according to preliminary estimates from Member States, mostly because of road transport. Without further robust and ambitious policies and measures, those currently in place at national level will be insufficient to achieve the reduction targets set for 2030.

An assessment of potential emission reductions of NOX, SO2 and dust - This report presents an assessment of the hypothetical emission reduction potential of NOx, SO2 and dust from more than 1 500 of Europe's large combustion plants that operated in 2009. Emissions of these air pollutants could be significantly lower if all plants were to meet the emission limit values as set out in European Union legislation.

Europe relies heavily on material resources for almost all of society’s activities. Its extraction and production of material resources have significant impacts on the environment and human health, as well as on the economy. It is essential to reuse such resources in European economies, keeping their value high, delivering value for longer periods and reducing the need to use virgin materials. While progress is being made in Europe, by implementing an ambitious waste policy and the Circular Economy Framework, significant amounts of valuable resources are still lost through inefficient waste management practices. This briefing describes material losses in Europe for some key waste streams, namely waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), end-of-life batteries, plastic waste and textile waste.

Creating a resilient economy within environmental limits

Water resources, surface water quality and water consumption in the Eastern Partnership countries