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Ocean acidification

The ocean absorbs around one quarter of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, altering seawater chemistry and causing ocean acidification, i.e. a decrease in ocean pH. Global mean surface seawater pH fell from 8.11 in 1985 to 8.04 in 2024 and is projected to decline further. Ocean acidification affects marine organisms and ecosystems, with effects cascading throughout the food web and with implications for ecosystem services such as fisheries. Reducing CO₂ emissions is essential to limit further acidification, while reducing local pressures can strengthen ecosystem resilience.

Global and European temperatures

Global mean decadal temperature between 2015 and 2025 was 1.24 to 1.32°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 2.20 to 2.29°C, depending on the dataset used. Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 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.

European sea surface temperature

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.

Drought impact on ecosystems in Europe

By 2025, Europe continues breaking climate records with more frequent and intense extreme weather events (ESOTC, 2025). Drought is a concern, with growing season soil moisture below the 2000–2020 baseline across 930,000 km² (22% of EU land area), making 2025 the fourth driest year since 2000. Vegetation productivity did not recover to normal conditions over approximately 250,000 km², particularly in south-eastern and Atlantic regions. Without stronger mitigation and adaptation, droughts are projected to become more damaging to ecosystems, agriculture, and water supplies.

Status of marine fish and shellfish stocks in Europe's seas

Despite progress, only 40% of Europe’s fish stocks assessed for Good Environmental Status are both fished at sustainable levels and in good biological condition, with pronounced regional differences: 45% in the North-East Atlantic and Baltic Sea, compared with 26% in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. EU targets to restore fish populations and ensure sustainable exploitation have thus not yet been achieved, highlighting the need for more effective action.

CO2 emissions performance of new passenger cars in Europe

The average CO 2 emissions from new passenger cars registered in Europe steadily declined between 2019 and 2023 resulting in a reduction of 28% over this period. In 2024, the year before stricter 2025 targets started applying, average CO 2 emissions of new cars remained stable as the share of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) slightly decreased. Almost all car manufacturers met their binding targets in 2024.

CO2 emissions performance of new vans in Europe

The average CO 2 emissions from new vans registered in Europe fell steadily between 2019 and 2023, resulting in a reduction of 11.4% during the period. In 2024, just before stricter 2025 targets came into effect, a small reversal in the downward trend was observed. This is largely due to a decrease of two percentage points in the share of battery electric vehicles (BEV) in all new van registrations in the European Union. Almost all van manufacturers met their binding targets in 2024.

Greenhouse gas emission intensity of electricity generation in Europe

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity of power generation in the European Union has continued to fall, confirming the trend of recent decades. Generating one kilowatt hour has emitted 11% less emissions in 2024 on average than in 2023, and 41% less than a decade ago. Climate and energy policies have effectively lowered carbon-intensive electricity supply over time, resulting in less coal use, more renewables and a more efficient EU generation mix.

Primary and final energy consumption in the European Union

The European Union’s primary energy consumption (PEC) in 2024 decreased by -1.2% compared to 2023, while final energy consumption (FEC) increased by 0.8%. PEC represents the total energy demand within a country, including losses, while FEC represents the energy used by final consumers. These estimates, and the historical energy consumption trends across Europe, show that more ambitious developments and decisive action is required to achieve the 2030 PEC and FEC targets set by the EU Energy Efficiency Directive.

Grassland butterfly index in Europe

Butterflies play an important role in ecosystems and provide a range of ecosystem services, including pollination. Butterflies are sensitive to environmental change and a good indicator of the health of the environment. Currently their numbers are declining. Between 1991 and 2024 the index of 17 grassland butterfly species in the European Union decreased very strongly, by 47%. To ensure the recovery of butterflies, Member States need to significantly increase the implementation of existing policies and put in place new conservation and restoration measures.

Bathing waters with excellent water quality in Europe

Bathing water quality has remained high over the period 2010-2025, based on assessments of the two microbiological parameters Escherichia coli ( E. coli) and intestinal enterococci. The share of EU bathing waters classified as having ‘excellent’ quality remained within a range of 81-89% for coastal waters and 60-82% for inland waters. These consistently high shares suggest that systematic monitoring and management of bathing sites, together with improvements in wastewater collection and treatment, have contributed to reducing organic pollution and pathogen contamination.

Exposure of Europe's ecosystems to ozone

Ground-level ozone not only adversely affects human health but also crops and ecosystems across Europe. This leads to premature deaths, decreased crop yields and forest growth, and loss of biodiversity. In 2024, 21.5% of Europe’s agricultural lands were exposed to ozone levels above the annual threshold value set for the protection of vegetation in the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive. In addition, the 2050 long-term objective was not met in 79% of agricultural lands.

Exceedance of air quality standards in Europe

European Union legislation has led to significant improvements in air quality. The percentage of urban citizens exposed to pollutant levels above legal standards set in 2004 and 2008 to protect human health fell steadily between 2000 and 2024. Still, in 2024, 16%, 8% and 6% of EU citizens were exposed, respectively, to ozone, benzo(a)pyrene and particulate matter PM 10 levels above EU standards. The World Health Organization defines more stringent guideline levels, with around 95% of urban citizens exposed to levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and ozone above these levels.

Share of energy consumption from renewable sources in Europe

In 2024, renewables accounted for 25.2% of final energy consumption in the European Union, around one percentage point more than in 2023. The increase was mainly driven by solar and wind power, followed by heat pumps, supporting greater energy independence. The share of renewables is expected to continue rising. Achieving the EU minimum target of 42.5% by 2030 will require doubling average deployment rates compared with the past decade and a profound transformation of the European energy system.

Industrial pollutant releases to air in Europe

Industrial releases into the air of substances harmful to human health and damaging to the climate and the environment decreased significantly between 2010 and 2024 in Europe. This decrease occurred while the value generated by industry for the European economy increased, and therefore represents an efficiency gain in terms of the ratio between emissions produced and the sector’s economic output.

Industrial pollutant releases to water in Europe

Between 2010 and 2024, 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.

Emissions and energy use in large combustion plants in Europe

Between 2004 and 2024, emissions from large combustion plants in the EU fell sharply: sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and dust by more than 94%, and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) by 73%. Fossil fuel consumption is now almost half of its 2004 level, as coal has been replaced by cleaner and more climate‑friendly energy sources. Further declines are expected as policies tighten and renewables and cleaner fuels become increasingly widespread.

Use of auctioning revenues generated under the EU Emissions Trading System

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 decline of 27% compared with the EUR 33 billion recorded in 2023.

Eutrophication caused by atmospheric nitrogen deposition in Europe

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.

Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations

The atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other forcing agents, including cooling aerosols, reached 481ppm CO 2 e in 2023. This is close to the upper limit of the peak level that the IPCC states 'should not be exceeded if — with a 67% likelihood and not allowing a temperature overshoot — the global temperature increase is to be limited to 1.5 o C above pre-industrial levels'. If allowing for an overshoot, the peak level could be exceeded before 2028. The peak concentrations corresponding to a temperature increase of 2 o C by 2100 could be exceeded before 2036.

Global impacts from European consumption

The 8th Environment Action Programme urges the European Union to significantly reduce its consumption footprint, i.e. the global environmental and climate impacts caused by EU consumption of goods and services. These impacts showed some variation during 2010-2023, yet the 2023 value is 18% less than 2010, mainly due to a sudden drop in the last year. Rising trends between 2020-2022 indicate that the recent decrease might be temporary. In general, consuming differently, consuming less and prioritising product eco-design are effective strategies to reduce environmental impacts of consumption.

Waste recycling in Europe

The waste recycling rate in Europe has increased due to EU binding recycling targets, indicating progress towards using more waste as a resource and achieving a circular economy. However, progress has stagnated recently and in some cases reversed, with total waste recycling rates lower in 2022 than a decade earlier. The majority of waste was still disposed of through incineration or landfilling. Achieving circularity and minimising environmental impacts from natural resource use requires continuous and ambitious waste management policies to incentivise recycling, discourage landfilling and incineration.

GDP-related air pollution exposure inequalities between regions in Europe

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.

Premature deaths due to exposure to fine particulate matter in Europe

The European Commission's zero pollution action plan (ZPAP) sets a target to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 2005. Between 2005 and 2023, the number of premature deaths in the EU-27 Member States attributable to PM 2.5 concentrations above 5µg/m 3 fell by 57%, achieving the target for 2030. Despite ongoing improvements, there were still 182,000 premature deaths attributable to PM 2.5 in the EU-27 in 2023.

Water abstraction by source and economic sector in Europe

The Water Framework Directive promotes sustainable water use based on a long-term protection of available water resources. Between 2000-2023, total freshwater abstraction in the European Union decreased by 14%, mainly due to a decline in water abstraction for electricity cooling. However, total water abstraction has remained broadly stable since 2010. Sectoral trends have reversed, with abstraction increasing in public water supply, agriculture and industry. This underlines the need to improve water use efficiency to meet the European Water resilience strategy's 10% target by 2030.