The European Environment Agency (EEA) has been tasked by the European Commission to annually take stock of the progress towards the 8th Environment Action Programme (8th EAP) objectives on the basis of a set of 28 headline indicators. The indicators were selected by the European Commission after consultation with stakeholders, the Member States and the EEA, and they represent key aspects of the 8th EAP.

The 8th Environment Action Programme is the Union’s legally agreed overarching framework for action on EU environment policy until 2030.

The programme reiterates the EU’s long-term vision to 2050 of living well, within planetary boundaries and sets out priority objectives for 2030 and the conditions needed to achieve these. It builds on the European Green Deal and aims to speed up the green transition and to protect, restore and improve the state of the environment.

The EEA will assess progress towards 8th EAP objectives in annual reports published every December. The first report will be available in December 2023. Please see the ongoing work on the 8th EAP headline indicators below.

8th EAP headline indicators:

Climate change mitigation

Climate change adaptation

A regenerative circular economy

Zero pollution and a toxic free environment

Biodiversity and ecosystems

Enabling conditions

Living well, within planetary boundaries