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Opportunities for innovation in the bioeconomy

This briefing identifies bio-based innovations with high potential to support the forthcoming updated EU bioeconomy strategy. The briefing also relates to broader EU climate and biodiversity goals, helping inform national and regional strategies. The analysis draws on data from EU and international institutions.

Economic losses and fatalities from weather- and climate-related extremes

This briefing is about the significant fatalities and economic losses from natural hazards between 1980 and 2023. It also examines the widening insurance protection gap, includes fresh data on six Western Balkan countries and insights to complement the relevant annual indicator .

Enhancing Europe’s land carbon sink

This report provides a description of the land use, land use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sector, as a relatively new sector in EU climate governance. It assesses the sector in terms of reported GHG emissions and removals, based on information provided in the latest EU greenhouse gas inventories as well as latest available projections data (reporting years 2023-2024). The report provides insights on ways to mitigate GHG emissions and enhance removals in the LULUCF sector, and what enabling conditions are most relevant to upscale options.

Annual European Union Informative Report 1990-2023 to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution

This document is the annual EU emission inventory report under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long‑range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention) (UNECE, 1979). The report and its accompanying data are the official submission to the Air Convention from the European Commission on behalf of the EU as a Party to the UNECE Air Convention. The European Environment Agency (EEA) compiled the report, working together with the EU Member States and the European Commission.

Air pollution in Europe — 2025 reporting status under the National Emission reduction Commitments Directive

This briefing describes progress made by the European Union and its Member States in reducing air pollutant emissions, as regulated by the National Emission reduction Commitments Directive (EU/2016/2284). It is based on data reported by EU Member States in 2025 for their 2023 emissions.

Eionet core dataflows 2024

This briefing summarises the evaluation of hundreds of data deliveries received from reporting countries for 13 Eionet core data flows. It shows progress against agreed reporting criteria, allowing countries to identify and prioritise the resources they need for regular reporting procedures.

Renewables, electrification and flexibility - For a competitive EU energy system transformation by 2030

Over the past five years, EU policy frameworks for climate mitigation and energy system transformation have become far more coherent and complete. Infrastructure security and resilience have been bolstered through integrated climate and energy planning in tandem with national and cross-border efforts to ensure sound policy implementation. It is now critical that decision-makers translate objectives and priorities for the energy system transition into actionable measures.

Environmental noise in Europe 2025

The Environmental noise in Europe — 2025 report presents the latest data and analysis on noise pollution and its effects on human health and the environment across Europe. The report draws on information submitted by European Union (EU) Member States and other EEA countries under the 2022 reporting round of the Environmental Noise Directive (END).

European bathing water quality in 2024

This briefing provides information on the quality of Europe’s bathing waters and is complemented by a map viewer to help people make informed decisions about where to bathe. It is published in the context of the European Union’s zero pollution action plan and is based on analysis of data reported by EU Member States for the 2021-2024 bathing seasons as required under the Bathing Water Directive (BWD) (EU, 2006).

Protecting and restoring Europe’s wild pollinators and their habitats

This briefing provides an overview of wild pollinators, the main drivers of their decline and solutions to protect and restore them. It highlights the importance of establishing an EU-wide standardised monitoring framework of pollinators. The briefing is published in the context of the Nature Restoration Regulation, the EU Pollinators Initiative and the European Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food.

Consolidated annual activity report (CAAR) 2024

The report provides an overview of the EEA’s key activities and achievements during the year, as we work to provide timely environmental data, knowledge, assessments and reporting to inform policy makers, the general public and other stakeholders.

Social fairness in preparing for climate change: how just resilience can benefit communities across Europe

There is a clear need to ramp up justice considerations in adaptation. By integrating justice into adaptation efforts and addressing the unique needs and vulnerabilities of different social groups, policymakers can create more resilient and equitable communities that are better prepared to cope with climate-related hazards.

Water savings for a water-resilient Europe

This briefing explores potential water savings that could be achieved in key European economic sectors to improve water efficiency and address growing uncertainties related to water availability. It provides context for the European Water Resilience Strategy among other European policy instruments.

PFAS polymers in focus: supporting Europe’s zero pollution, low-carbon and circular economy ambitions

This briefing explores the impacts of PFAS polymers and highlights the latest knowledge about their potential impacts on health, the environment and the climate. It provides background context to the ongoing proposals to clarify the use of PFAS in Europe.

Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory 1990-2023 and inventory document 2025

Submission under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. You can read more on the press release .

Imagining a sustainable Europe in 2050

This foresight report looks at how Europe’s food, energy and mobility systems and the built environment could evolve. The report takes four imagined futures, or ‘imaginaries’, developed by the EEA and its network – Eionet, and explores how Europe’s key systems might evolve under each possible future.

Strengthening society’s engagement with nature

This briefing describes how the value of nature can be viewed differently by different societal groups. It highlights the need for more collaboration between governments, businesses and civil society to strengthen and scale up efforts to encourage greater engagement with nature. The briefing supports the implementation of the EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 and Nature Restoration Regulation.

Preventing waste in Europe - Progress and challenges, with a focus on food waste

This report gives the latest biennial check-up on waste prevention actions via data and trends, in support of EU’s Waste Framework Directive.

Circularity of the EU textiles value chain in numbers

A vision of the EU in its strategy on sustainable and circular textiles is to move away from fast fashion towards better and longer-lasting products, with more reuse and recycling. This briefing helps fill data and knowledge gaps on the circularity of the textiles value chain to support policies targeted towards reducing the environmental and climate impacts of textiles.

Mycotoxin exposure in a changing European climate

Mycotoxins are toxins from fungi which contaminate crops, food and feed. Climate change alters fungal behaviour and distribution, increasing the risk of exposure to these toxins. This briefing explores associated health concerns and how a One Health approach can prevent contamination.

Zero pollution monitoring and outlook 2025

The monitoring and outlook assessment, published jointly by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre and the EEA, serves as regular bi-annual check-up on the progress of Member States in achieving the EU’s zero-pollution targets. This second edition will also inform future policies designed to support the zero-pollution ambition — to reduce pollution to the extent that it no longer presents a risk to human health and the environment by 2050.

Methane, climate change and air quality in Europe: exploring the connections

This briefing is intended to support future European Commission policy action on methane abatement at the national, EU and international levels. Such actions will contribute to innovative solutions in the industry, agriculture and food sectors.

Monitoring report on progress towards the 8th EAP objectives - 2024 edition

The EEA takes stock annually of progress towards the 8th Environment Action Programme (8th EAP) objectives on the basis of a set of 28 headline indicators and corresponding targets.

European Maritime Transport Environmental Report 2025

This is the second edition of EMTER, a joint report by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the EEA. It gives an update on the environmental performance of the sector and an assessment of efforts to make it more sustainable.

Product lifespans — monitoring trends in Europe

Extending product lifespans helps reduce demand for new products and their related environmental impacts. This briefing aims to improve our understanding and provide novel insights on trends in product lifespans in Europe. This assessment is based on seven indicators developed specifically for the EEA’s Circularity Metrics Lab’s thematic module on product lifespans .