Press releases

Key air pollutant emissions targeted for reductions and monitored under EU legislation continued to decline across most EU Member States, according to the latest data assessment published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) today. However, reducing ammonia emissions continues to present a bigger challenge.

Scaling up renewable electricity sources across the EU could reduce electricity generation costs, improve energy independence, and support the transition towards clean industry, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report published today. At the same time, accelerating the electrification of heating, transport and industry is needed to support Europe’s clean and competitive future.

Just over 110 million people, or more than 20% of Europeans, are exposed to high levels of transport noise that exceed thresholds set under EU reporting rules and which harm our health, the environment and the economy, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report on noise pollution published today. The report calls for stronger action at EU and national levels to address the problem.

From Europe’s coastal waters to its inland bathing sites, a large majority of Europe’s waters are safe to swim in, according to the latest European bathing water assessment for the 2024 bathing season , published today. It found that over 85% of monitored locations met the European Union’s most stringent ‘excellent’ bathing water quality standards last year, while 96% of all officially identified bathing waters in the EU met the minimum quality standards.

Wild pollinators are crucial for our food production and ecosystems, yet they are under threat. To tackle the causes of their decline and secure their habitats, we need actions across economic sectors, governance levels, and society. Monitoring the diversity and abundance of wild pollinators is indispensable for assessing the effects of these actions, according to an EEA briefing published today.

Europe is warming up faster than any other continent and the most vulnerable people are bearing the brunt of climate impacts. A new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA), published today, shows that although the most vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected, they are often overlooked in climate adaptation planning and especially implementation.

Significant water savings can be achieved in key economic sectors through new measures which will be essential to boost the European Union’s water resilience, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today.

After a steady and significant reduction from 2020 to 2023, average carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from new cars registered in Europe slightly increased in 2024, according to new provisional data published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) Scientific Committee has elected a new chair and two vice-chairs at its spring meeting held over two days at the EEA headquarters in Copenhagen.

The widespread use of PFAS polymers in everything from consumer products to green technologies can lead to contamination of water, air, soil, food and people. A European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment, published today, says that these chemicals can also contribute to global warming and ozone depletion.

The European Union’s energy sector led the way in reducing domestic EU net greenhouse gas emissions by 9% in 2023 compared to the year before according to the latest official EU data submitted by the European Environment Agency (EEA) to the United Nations. The drop represents the largest relative reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the EU since 1990 and further solidifies the EU’s progress to reduce its share of global emissions.

How will we meet our needs for food, housing, energy and mobility in 2050? What major disruptions—from global unrest to climate breakdown or digital collapse—could reshape them? And how can we future-proof these vital production and consumption systems against disruptions? These are the questions explored in an EEA report released today.

Air quality is steadily improving across Europe with most air pollution monitoring stations achieving current EU annual limits for some of the most harmful air pollutants. However, additional measures to improve air quality, especially in cities, will be required to fully meet current EU standards as well as recently agreed future air quality standards by 2030, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA) air quality data analysis for 2023 and 2024 published today.

Do you have a story to share about how you made a positive difference, improving our environment and helping to build a more sustainable future? Then why not submit it and take part in the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) ‘Our environment : Our future’ outreach campaign? Tell us about Europe’s environment through your actions and in your own words.

While prevention measures are gaining momentum, more effective efforts at national level are needed to tackle the huge problem of food waste according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report released today. The assessment gives an update on waste prevention measures across the EU. Preventing food waste is both urgent and necessary, given the high impacts of food waste on climate change, but also to protect biodiversity, reduce pollution and enhance food security, it says.

Europeans are buying and discarding more clothing, footwear and other textiles than ever before, which as a result, is putting more pressure on our climate and environment, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing released today. The updated consumption data highlights the need for policymakers, industry and consumers to play their role in helping Europe shift away from the fast-fashion trend, to produce better, longer lasting quality textiles which are designed to last long, and can be reused, repaired and recycled.

Rising temperatures due to climate change are increasing the risk of human exposure to so-called mycotoxins, naturally occurring toxins produced by fungi found in certain foods, feed and crops according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today. These toxins can harm health and preventing the rise of contamination requires joined-up action on European and national levels, on research, policies and practice to effectively reduce risks.

Calling all photography enthusiasts with a keen interest in the environment. Today the European Environment Agency (EEA) launched its 2025 ‘Environment&Me’ photo competition which aims to put the spotlight on the deep connection between people and our surrounding environment.

Today, the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) published the second Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook report, which provides an overview of the EU’s work to meet the 2030 zero pollution targets. The Commission also published today its fourth Clean Air Outlook report . The reports show that EU policies have contributed to reducing air pollution, pesticide use and plastic litter at sea. However, pollution levels are still too high, in particular from harmful noise, microplastic releases into the environment, nutrient pollution and waste generation.

More action is needed to control and reduce methane emissions across Europe and globally, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change, in addition it is also a major contributor to ground-level ozone pollution, leading to poor air quality and harm to human health, ecosystems and agricultural production.

Despite steady progress in key areas, the European Union is only partially on track to achieve the EU’s 2030 climate, environment and sustainability objectives, according to the latest monitoring report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA). More decisive measures are needed to boost a circular economy, reverse the declining trend in biodiversity and in reducing the EU’s consumption footprint.

Europe’s maritime sector is making progress towards greater sustainability but will need to increase its efforts over the coming years to meet EU climate and environment goals aimed at reducing energy use, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions as well as better protecting biodiversity. That is according to the second edition of the European Maritime Transport Environmental Report , released today by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA).

More than one out of five Europeans are exposed to harmful long-term noise from road, rail and air transport. Published today, European Environment Agency’s (EEA) briefing shows that this noise exposure leads to over half a million children suffering from impaired reading ability and almost 60,000 having behavioural difficulties in Europe.

Just under 240,000 deaths per year in the European Union can be attributed to exposure to fine particulate matter, a key air pollutant, according to the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) air quality health impact assessment published today as the new EU rules enter into force. The latest data also confirm, yet again, that Europeans remain exposed to air pollutant concentrations considerably above recommended World Health Organization (WHO) levels. A separate assessment also found that nearly three quarters of Europe’s ecosystems are exposed to damaging levels of air pollution.

Concerns about PFAS pollution have increased in many European countries but comprehensive monitoring data are often limited. Published today, the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) assessment shows that most monitored rivers, transitional and coastal waters and a large part of lakes in Europe are polluted with at least one of the many extremely persistent chemical compounds that are deemed harmful for people and nature.