Editorial

"Environmental policy making is not an easy task. On the one hand, Europeans want to enjoy the benefits a well-functioning economy provides. On the other, there are significant environmental and health costs attached to our lifestyle choices. A systemic understanding of how nature, economy and human health are connected is essential for identifying the best policy options available. The European Environment Agency aims to support policy making by providing exactly this kind of knowledge."

Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director

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"Boosting green finance is important because meeting environmental objectives is to large extent an investment challenge. There are estimates that about EUR 1 trillion worth of investments are needed, annually, from 2021 onwards, to meet the EU’s 2030 climate and energy targets. It is important to bear in mind that these are not costs but productive investments with expected returns and multiple co-benefits."

Interview with Andreas Barkman on sustainable finance and the EEA's contributions.  

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Total greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union decreased by 0.4 % in 2016, according to latest official data published by the European Environment Agency. Using less coal to produce heat and electricity was enough to make a slight cut in total emissions despite an increase in transport emissions for the third consecutive year. Read more

Despite a slight drop in results, 85% of swimming sites across Europe monitored in 2017 met the European Union's highest and most stringent 'excellent' quality standards for waters mostly free from pollutants. The results give a good indication where holiday makers can find the best quality bathing waters this summer. Read more

Environmental pressures caused by heavy metal emissions from Europe's large industrial facilities decreased from 2010 to 2016, according to new data from the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register. A small fraction of facilities was responsible for more than half of the environmental pressures linked to heavy metal pollution in 2016. Read more

Are there nature sites of European importance near you? Are cranes breeding there? What types of habitats and other species can you find at these sites? Check this and other key information on the EU's Natura 2000 network with the updated Natura 2000 viewer. Read more

While past years have seen steady declines, new passenger cars registered in 2017 emitted on average 0.4 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre more than in 2016. Read more

Average carbon dioxide emissions of new vans registered in the European Union in 2017 were 4.7% lower than in 2016, according to preliminary data published by the European Environment Agency. Read more

Almost all European countries have conducted national climate change vulnerability and risk assessments as part of their adaptation plans to better deal with the impacts of climate-related hazards, according to a new European Environment Agency report. Read more

Emissions of carbon dioxide from new passenger cars have dropped in a number of European countries where a range of taxes, subsidies and other incentives are used to encourage consumers to purchase lower-carbon-dioxide emitting vehicles.  At the same time, emissions from trucks and buses are expected to increase further if new measures are not taken. Read more

Based on nearly 700,000 collected items, disposable plastics are the biggest contributor to marine litter, with cigarette butts and filters being the most commonly found individual items. The new data has been collected using the EEA’s Marine LitterWatch mobile app. Read more

Join us for a Facebook Live discussion with two EEA experts working on topics related to circular economy, bioeconomy and waste reduction. Post your questions in the comments field and we will answer them during the live interview. Read more

The European Environment Agency will be contribute to a summer school activity on Precautionary Principle in Sustainability Transitions.

In more than 250 presentations and workshops, spatial data specialists with an academic, public or private sector background, share their latest insights and experiences. Read more

This year’s EEEN Forum will focus on the impact of the evaluating environment and climate policies. Call for applications is open until 6 September 2018. Read more

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