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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 Fossil fuel consumption is now almost half of its 2004 level, as coal has been replaced by cleaner and more climate‑friendly energy sources.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.

Drought impact on ecosystems in Europe

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.

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 2023. 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.

Net land take in cities and commuting zones in Europe

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.

Circular material use rate in Europe

The EU aims to double recycled material use, in terms of its share of the economy's total material use, between 2020 and 2030 to reach 22.4% by 2030. A goal set in the 8th Environmental Action Programme, an ambition confirmed and even slightly increased to 24% in the Clean Industrial Deal . Increasing the use of secondary materials relatively reduces the demand for primary raw materials and their associated environmental impacts. Secondary materials accounted for 12.2% of total material use in 2024, an increase of 1.5 percentage points compared with 2010. This slow progress, along with projected increased material demand by 2030, implies that the EU is currently not on track to double the circular material use rate by 2030.

Water scarcity conditions in Europe

Water scarcity affected 28% of the European Union territory during at least one season in 2023. Although water abstraction declined by 14% in the EU between 2000 and 2023, there has been no overall reduction in the area affected by water scarcity conditions, despite the annual fluctuations. This, compounded with the fact that climate change is expected to further increase the frequency, intensity and impacts of drought events, makes it somewhat unlikely that water scarcity will reduce by 2030.

Pesticides in rivers, lakes and groundwater in Europe

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.

Global and European sea level rise

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.

Nutrients in freshwater in Europe

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.

Oxygen consuming substances in European rivers

In European rivers, oxygen consuming substances decreased over the period 1992 to 2023, which is a consequence of the improvement in wastewater treatment. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) fell to half of the 1992 level, but has been fluctuating at 2.0-2.2mgO 2 /l since 2010. Ammonium concentrations fell to 20% of the 1992 level and have stabilised at less than 0.08mgNH 4 -N/l in the past few years. The economic crisis in central and eastern European countries during the 1990s also contributed to decreasing pollution from manufacturing industries.

Diversion of waste from landfill in Europe

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.

Arctic and Baltic sea ice

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.

Proportion of local breeds classified as being at risk of extinction in Europe

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.

Hydrofluorocarbon phase out in Europe

Following two decades of fluctuation, European Union emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) peaked in 2014. They have since fallen by about 38% (by 2023). This can largely be attributed to the EU-wide hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phase out specified in the F-gas Regulation, which aims to reduce F-gas emissions and mitigate global warming. HFCs account for the majority of F-gas emissions and the EU is on track to meet its targets for HFC use. It is also on track to meet its international obligation to reduce HFC consumption, in effect since 2019, under the Montreal Protocol.

Share of buses and trains in inland passenger transport in Europe

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.

Nitrate in groundwater in Europe

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.