European Union flag

This page lists all the design components used as building for our websites. The page mainly used to perform various technical audits and tests. The EEA Design System offers more information about our design language and guidelines for the use of these design components.

Table of contents (horizontal)

Below the table of contents layouted as an horizontal menu.

Standard text with image

As well as premature death, air pollution causes ill health and adds significant costs on the health care sector. For example, in 2019, exposure to PM2.5 led to 175,702 years lived with disability (YLDs) due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across 30 European countries.

From 2005 to 2020, the number of early deaths from exposure to PM2.5 fell by 45% in the EU. If this trend continues, the EU is expected to deliver on the zero pollution action plan target of a 55% reduction in premature deaths by 2030.

Figure 1. EU exports of used textiles to other regions, 2000, 2010 and 2019, percent

EU exports of used textiles

Source: UN Comtrade; HS (as reported): 6309,6310, Period: 2000, 2010, 2019 , Reporters: EU
Note: Throughout the past two decades, Africa has been the main receiving continent of used textiles from the EU. But by the end of the period, Asia had significantly increased its share and by 2019 was almost as big as Africa as can be seen from Figure

Below an image with alt-text and copyright displayed on it.

Office with desk, laptop and a plant.

Video

Below an embedded video.

Accordion

Below an example of the accordion component.

Tabs

Below some examples on how tabs can be used.

Default tabs

Below the default horizontal tabs.

Climate change is already impacting Europeans’ daily lives and will continue for the foreseeable future. Even if we effectively reduce global emissions, it will worsen. Flooding, droughts, heatwaves and other climate-related hazards are becoming more intense and more frequent. These hazards have significant health and economic costs.

The EU is approaching climate change in two ways:

  • Climate mitigation - Preventing or reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere to make the impacts of climate change less severe.

  • Climate change adaptation - Actions to adapt to the impacts of climate change, like preventing flooding, saving energy, and reducing disaster risks

In 2021, the EU made climate neutrality by 2050 a legally binding goal, and set an interim target of a 55% emission reduction by 2030. This goal forms the foundation of The European Green Deal, a roadmap for the EU to become climate neutral by 2050.

Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service

Copernicus Climate Change Service

shows 2020 as the warmest year ever recorded in Europe. Evidence indicates that this rise in temperature is due to rising greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. 

The average temperature globally is also 0.95 to 1.20°C higher than it was in late 19th century. In scientific communities, an increase of 2°C is often defined as the threshold for when there will be catastrophic consequences for the climate and the environment. 

It is not all bad news, though. In recent years, the EU has taken steps to reduce emissions globally and adapt to the effects of climate change. In 2008, the EU aimed to cut emissions by 20% - compared to 1990 levels – by 2020. That goal was met, and new more ambitious targets were defined for 2030 and 2050.

Vertical tabs

Below the vertical tabs with dark background (aka inverted).

Climate change is already impacting Europeans’ daily lives and will continue for the foreseeable future. Even if we effectively reduce global emissions, it will worsen. Flooding, droughts, heatwaves and other climate-related hazards are becoming more intense and more frequent. These hazards have significant health and economic costs.

The EU is approaching climate change in two ways:

  • Climate mitigation - Preventing or reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere to make the impacts of climate change less severe.

  • Climate change adaptation - Actions to adapt to the impacts of climate change, like preventing flooding, saving energy, and reducing disaster risks

In 2021, the EU made climate neutrality by 2050 a legally binding goal, and set an interim target of a 55% emission reduction by 2030. This goal forms the foundation of The European Green Deal, a roadmap for the EU to become climate neutral by 2050.

Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service

Copernicus Climate Change Service

shows 2020 as the warmest year ever recorded in Europe. Evidence indicates that this rise in temperature is due to rising greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. 

The average temperature globally is also 0.95 to 1.20°C higher than it was in late 19th century. In scientific communities, an increase of 2°C is often defined as the threshold for when there will be catastrophic consequences for the climate and the environment. 

It is not all bad news, though. In recent years, the EU has taken steps to reduce emissions globally and adapt to the effects of climate change. In 2008, the EU aimed to cut emissions by 20% - compared to 1990 levels – by 2020. That goal was met, and new more ambitious targets were defined for 2030 and 2050.

Cards

Below an example of the cards component.

Image cards

Listing item cards

Social fairness key to success of the EU’s new ETS2 cap and trade system

Social fairness key to success of the EU’s new ETS2 cap and trade system

05 Mar 2026

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.

Exposure to pollution linked to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues

Exposure to pollution linked to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues

03 Mar 2026

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.

Industrial transformation key to cutting emissions and pollution further in Europe’s energy-intensive industries

Industrial transformation key to cutting emissions and pollution further in Europe’s energy-intensive industries

25 Feb 2026

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.

Rail offers a major opportunity for Europe to cut transport emissions, as road transport still dominates

Rail offers a major opportunity for Europe to cut transport emissions, as road transport still dominates

10 Feb 2026

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.

Fire and ice: how satellite data helps illustrate Europe’s changing landscape

Fire and ice: how satellite data helps illustrate Europe’s changing landscape

09 Feb 2026

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).

Overheated and underprepared: European survey finds citizens concerned about heat and ability to cope with climate change

Overheated and underprepared: European survey finds citizens concerned about heat and ability to cope with climate change

04 Feb 2026

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.

News cards

Summer 2022: Living in a state of multiple crises
16 Sept 2022
Editorial by EEA Executive Director, published in the EEA Newsletter, no 3/2022, September 2022 It seems as if we have been living through one crisis after another — a pandemic, extreme heatwaves and drought due to climate change, inflation, war, and an energy crisis. This winter is likely to be marked by continued uncertainty, high volatility in global markets like energy and food, which will affect some countries and groups more than others. Tackling these crises, especially in the long term, requires steadfast policy commitment and investments in sustainability to strengthen our societies’ resilience.
European environment network conference 2023: Delivering the European Green Deal in unprecedented times
06 Mar 2023
We face challenging times, marked by the impacts of the war in Ukraine, energy security concerns, rising prices, ever more costly climate impacts and an already frail economy recovering from the effects of the pandemic. In this complex picture of multiple crises, how can Europe deliver its ambitious policy goals set under the European Green Deal?

Statistics

Below animated and clickable statistics.

Tables

Below an example of a table that is also sortable on the column headings.

Default sortable table

Country

Emission value

Austria

345

Belgium

8903

Greece

590

Inverted table

Country

Emission value

Austria

345

Belgium

8903

Greece

590

Message box

Below an example of a message box with colored background and a call for action button.

What causes climate change?

The gases that humans have put into the air over the past century from coal, oil and natural gas production have become trapped in our atmosphere. can’t go to space, so it returns to earth, causing climate change and global warming.

There are three main types of greenhouse gases created by human activity:

  • Carbon dioxide stemming from coal, oil and natural gas burned to generate heat and elecricity.

  • Methane from sheep and cow farming and accompanying manure.

  • Nitrous oxide from fertiliser use

Because of these emissions, , and long-term shifts in weather patterns are observed. That means more like heatwaves, droughts, and floods.

Quote

“It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.”

Report, “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis,” Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 

Hero message

Below an example of a hero message.

Climate ADAPT - the EU's main source for adaptation information

Footnotes

Below an example on how footnotes are displayed.

  1. <div class="csl-bib-body" style="line-height: 1.35; "> <div class="csl-entry">Estrada, F., Botzen, W. J. W. and Tol, R. S. J., 2017, 'A global economic assessment of city policies to reduce climate change impacts', <i>Nature Climate Change</i> 7(6), pp. 403&#x2013;406 ( <a key=link-1 href=https://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate3301 rel="noopener"> https://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate3301 </a>) accessed December 4, 2020.</div> </div>
  2. Over the past 30 years, temperatures in European countries have increased by more than twice the global average

Tags

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Comment

Below an example of how an input area on how to get comments on the page.