The EEA issues press releases on key assessments and institutional developments. They are then disseminated to our subscribers and shared with journalists and the wider public. You can filter our press releases by topic through the search function. See below for our latest press releases:

Europe is not prepared for rapidly growing climate risks

11 Mar 2024

Europe is the fastest warming continent in the world, and climate risks are threatening its energy and food security, ecosystems, infrastructure, water resources, financial stability, and people’s health. According to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) assessment, published today, many of these risks have already reached critical levels and could become catastrophic without urgent and decisive action.

Europe is not prepared for rapidly growing climate risks

Many returned and unsold textiles end up destroyed in Europe

04 Mar 2024

Textile consumption in Europe causes significant pressures on the environment and climate. Part of these pressures comes from returned and unsold textiles that are destroyed and never used for their intended purpose. A new European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing looks at the issue and estimates the share of returned and unsold textiles that are destroyed in Europe and options to address this challenge.

Many returned and unsold textiles end up destroyed in Europe

What does a just transition to sustainability look like and how do we deliver?

28 Feb 2024

What do we mean by a ‘just transition’ to a sustainable future? A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published today, looks into how a shift to a greener, climate-neutral, circular economy will impact our society and describes how policies must be informed by concepts of justice and fairness if they are to succeed.

What does a just transition to sustainability look like and how do we deliver?

Better links between waste management, circular economy and climate change mitigation measures can boost greenhouse gas emission reductions

22 Feb 2024

Recycling, repair, re-use or reducing material consumption through circular business models can provide important additional reductions in greenhouse gas emissions helping to boost Europe’s climate change mitigation efforts, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today.

Better links between waste management, circular economy and climate change mitigation measures can boost greenhouse gas emission reductions

Costs of industrial pollution from largest facilities decline in Europe but remain at 2% of EU GDP

25 Jan 2024

Air pollution from large European industry continues to cause significant damage to the environment, climate and people’s health. However, according to an updated analysis by the European Environment Agency (EEA) , the cost of this pollution has declined by about a third during the past decade. Published today, the analysis shows that just a small fraction of the most polluting facilities — many of them coal power plants — causes half of the total damage.

Costs of industrial pollution from  largest facilities decline in Europe but remain at 2% of EU GDP

Meeting EU environment policy targets by 2030 will be challenging

18 Dec 2023

The EU 8 th Environment Action Programme (EAP) builds on the European Green Deal and sets the framework for EU environmental policy until 2030. Published today, the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) first monitoring report on the Programme shows that the EU may not meet most of the monitoring targets outlined in the European Commission’s 8 th EAP Monitoring Communication. Stronger implementation by the Member States of existing laws, additional measures, and mainstreaming climate and environment in other policy domains are needed for faster progress.

Meeting EU environment policy targets by 2030 will be challenging

Warming, acidification, dropping oxygen levels threaten Europe’s seas

30 Nov 2023

Climate change’s triple impact on seas — warming waters, acidification and decreasing oxygen levels — are a major and increasing threat to Europe’s marine ecosystems. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published today, looks at main threats to Europe’s seas and points to key actions to improve the situation.

Warming, acidification, dropping oxygen levels threaten Europe’s seas

Air pollution levels still too high across Europe – remains top environmental health risk

24 Nov 2023

Air pollution in Europe remains well above recommended World Health Organization (WHO) levels, posing a significant threat to our health. According to the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) air quality health assessment published today, 253,000 deaths could have been avoided in the EU if the fine particulate matter concentrations had met WHO recommendations. Exposure to air pollution causes or aggravates certain diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, asthma, and diabetes according to new estimates of health impacts.

Air pollution levels still too high across Europe – remains top environmental health risk

Nature-based solutions play crucial role in building Europe’s climate resilience

16 Nov 2023

Nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands in flood-prone areas or green infrastructure to reduce heat island effects in cities, need to be scaled up and expanded to help Europe better cope with the impacts of climate change. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing, published today, assesses the current state of such climate adaptation projects and how they can increase both society resilience and biodiversity.

Nature-based solutions play crucial role in building Europe’s climate resilience

Winners of EEA’s 2023 Zero Waste PIX photo competition announced

13 Nov 2023

A colourful shot of a woman making tomato paste, a moody picture of seemly discarded rusted anchors and dogs rummaging through a garbage dump highlight this year’s winners of the EEA ‘Zero Waste PIX’ photo competition announced today.

Winners of EEA’s 2023 Zero Waste PIX photo competition announced

Urgent need to consider how to best use biomass in Europe

08 Nov 2023

There are increasing and competing demands for using biomass in the EU, using it for bio-based products in sectors such as construction, energy, transport, furniture and textile industries, but also reserving it for nature conservation and carbon sequestration. The European Environment Agency (EEA) report, published today, stresses that there is an urgent need to prioritise the biomass uses due to different roles foreseen for biomass in the European Green Deal and due to potential shortage of biomass supply in the future.

Urgent need to consider how to best use biomass in Europe

Investing in green industry can help keep sustainability momentum in Europe

07 Nov 2023

Europe has committed to ambitious sustainability targets in the coming decades, including achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This transition requires large investments while public budgets are under increasing pressure from security needs, inflation, ageing population, and other priorities. Published today, a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis looks at this challenge and identifies investments in clean technology and green industry as key solutions to accelerate investments and progress towards the goals of the European Green Deal.

Investing in green industry can help keep sustainability momentum in Europe

EU’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped last year, but accelerated efforts still needed to meet ambitious 2030 targets

24 Oct 2023

Greenhouse gas emissions dropped by two percent last year across the European Union, compared to 2021 levels according to estimates in the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) ‘Trends and Projections’ report published today. However, despite gains made in emissions reductions, renewable energy and energy efficiency, the report cautions that accelerated action is urgently needed to meet the EU’s ambitious climate and energy targets.

EU’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped last year, but accelerated efforts still needed to meet ambitious 2030 targets

Heatwaves, droughts, other extreme weather events increasingly influencing adaptation policies

24 Oct 2023

Climate risk assessments that take account of threats like heatwaves, droughts, floods and wildfires are increasingly being used to inform and improve national adaptation policies according to the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment of national adaptation actions published today.

Heatwaves, droughts, other extreme weather events increasingly influencing adaptation policies

Pick the Public Choice Award winner of EEA ‘Zero Waste PIX’ photo competition

24 Oct 2023

Vote online to help us pick the winner of this year’s Public Choice Award winner for the 2023 ‘Zero Waste PIX’ photo competition organised by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Cast your vote by 7 November!

Pick the Public Choice Award winner of EEA ‘Zero Waste PIX’ photo competition

Rapid growth in renewables calls for greater cooperation among Member States to double flexibility in the EU power system

20 Oct 2023

EU Member States need to massively ramp up their renewable power capacity in the coming years. This increase in renewables from variable sources, such as wind and solar, will also increase the need for ‘flexibility’ in the EU electricity system. A joint report released today by two EU agencies, EEA and ACER, demonstrates how Member States could exploit collaboration synergies to unlock flexibility and enhance energy security while contributing to long-term climate neutrality. Key levers include better cross-border planning and forecasting, enhanced use of interconnectors as well as financial incentives and reliable information for electricity consumers to adapt demand when needed.

Rapid growth in renewables calls for greater cooperation among Member States to double flexibility in the EU power system

People first: how do we make Europe’s shift to sustainability inclusive?

03 Oct 2023

What is the role of citizens in Europe’s shift to a sustainable future and how do we make it inclusive? Transitioning into sustainability will be challenging and calls for creativity and the full involvement of all sectors of society, including citizens, to make it a success, according to a European Environment Agency briefing published today.

People first: how do we make Europe’s shift to sustainability inclusive?

EU continues phasing out use of chemicals that harm the ozone layer

15 Sept 2023

New data published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) on the eve of World Ozone Day show that, in 2022, the European Union (EU) continued positive progress towards the EU goal and global commitment to phase out the use of ozone-depleting substances. In 2022, the EU Member States’ production and use of these substances was lower than the amounts that were destroyed and exported.

EU continues phasing out use of chemicals that harm the ozone layer

Public exposure to widely used Bisphenol A exceeds acceptable health safety levels

14 Sept 2023

Population exposure to the synthetic chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in everything from plastic and metal food containers to reusable water bottles and drinking water pipes in Europe is well above acceptable health safety levels, according to updated research data. This poses a potential health risk to millions of people, a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today says.

Public exposure to widely used Bisphenol A exceeds acceptable health safety levels

New Chair of the EEA Management Board

01 Sept 2023

The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) Management Board gets a new chairperson today as André Weidenhaupt takes over from Laura Burke at the end of her term. Mr Weidenhaupt is Director-General at Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development.

New Chair of the EEA Management Board

Get your cameras ready! EEA launches ZeroWaste PIX photo competition 2023

03 Jul 2023

This year we invite avid photographers across Europe to capture both the good — sustainable, and not so good — unsustainable — production and consumption patterns, habits and behaviours in our daily lives. This year’s European Environment Agency (EEA) photo competition ' ZeroWaste PIX’ , launched today, calls us all to reflect on the state of modern lifestyles.

Get your cameras ready! EEA launches ZeroWaste PIX photo competition 2023

How can building owners, construction contractors better see advantages to energy efficiency renovations?

29 Jun 2023

A better understanding is needed of how owners, construction contractors and installers interact and perceive possible advantages of renovating their houses, apartments and other buildings to improve energy efficiency. This would help bolster European policies to shift the building sector to a carbon-neutral future. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today explores the behaviours of these actors in the building sector and how they can influence decisions on whether and when to invest in energy renovations.

How can building owners, construction contractors better see advantages to energy efficiency renovations?

Emissions of key air pollutants continue to decline across the EU, reducing ammonia poses biggest challenge.

28 Jun 2023

Emissions of key air pollutants monitored under EU law continued to decline across most EU Member States maintaining a trend since 2005. However, the most problematic area remains reducing ammonia emissions, emitted mostly by the agriculture sector. The latest annual European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis of air pollution data provided by EU Member States is published today.

Emissions of key air pollutants continue to decline across the EU, reducing ammonia poses biggest challenge.

Cutting pollution would significantly reduce heart attacks and strokes in Europe

22 Jun 2023

Scientific evidence shows that environmental risks are responsible for a major share of cardiovascular disease, which is the most common cause of death in Europe. A European Environment Agency analysis, published today, provides an overview of the link between environment and cardiovascular disease, highlighting that addressing pollution, extreme temperatures, and other environmental risks are cost-effective actions to reduce the burden of disease, including heart attacks and strokes.

Cutting pollution would significantly reduce heart attacks and strokes in Europe

Promoting healthier environment for healthier lives

21 Jun 2023

Despite progress over the past decades, pollution and other environmental risks continue to harm people’s health in Europe. Published today, EEA Signals 2023 looks at the connection between environment and health and how taking care of nature and the climate can deliver long-term health benefits for all Europeans.

Promoting healthier environment for healthier lives