The European environment — state and outlook 2015 — synthesis report

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Publication Created 08 Jan 2015 Published 02 Mar 2015
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The synthesis report informs future European environmental policy in general and its implementation between 2015 and 2020 in particular. It includes a reflection on the European environment in a global context, as well as chapters summarising the state of, trends in, and prospects for the environment in Europe.

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: 978-92-9213-515-7
: TH-01-15-001-EN-C
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Data visualisations

Changes in the use of freshwater for irrigation, industry, energy cooling and public water supply since the early 1990s Changes in the use of freshwater for irrigation, industry, energy cooling and public water supply since the early 1990s
Greenhouse gas trends and projections until 2050 Greenhouse gas trends and projections until 2050 Dotted lines until 2030 represent projected emissions from Member States and the European Commission. In the ‘with existing measures’ scenario, projections from Member States take into account implemented or adopted national measures at the time of the preparation of projections, i.e. by mid-2012. These projections do not cover the full implementation of the 2020 EU Climate and energy package and underlying legislation, which are included in the European Commission's 'with adopted measures' baseline scenario. In the 'with additional measures' scenario, projections take into account the national measures that were at planning stage in Member States at the time of the preparation of projections.
Developments in fuel efficiency of an average car alongside trends in private car ownership and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions Developments in fuel efficiency of an average car alongside trends in private car ownership and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions Time series of the indexed values of gross domestic product (GDP), stocks of cars, total CO2 emissions of cars, total car kilometres travelled, total fuel consumption of private cars and average specific fuel consumption of cars.
Conservation status of species and habitats by ecosystem type from Habitats Directive Article 17 reporting Conservation status of species and habitats by ecosystem type from Habitats Directive Article 17 reporting
Inland bathing water quality in the European Union Inland bathing water quality in the European Union
Estimated global level, production and consumption carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions embedded in goods Estimated global level, production and consumption carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions embedded in goods
Presents domestic material consumption and raw material consumption, along with related imports and exports of goods Presents domestic material consumption and raw material consumption, along with related imports and exports of goods
Urbanisation patterns across Europe Urbanisation patterns across Europe
Emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases and gross value added (GVA) from European industry Emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases and gross value added (GVA) from European industry
Gross inland energy consumption by fuel Gross inland energy consumption by fuel
Municipal waste recycled and composted in each European country Municipal waste recycled and composted in each European country
Urban population exposed to air pollutant concentrations above selected limit and target values Urban population exposed to air pollutant concentrations above selected limit and target values
Urban population exposed to air pollutant concentrations above WHO air quality guidelines Urban population exposed to air pollutant concentrations above WHO air quality guidelines
Transport demand by mode compared with GDP Transport demand by mode compared with GDP
Objectives and targets of EU environmental policies by sector and year Objectives and targets of EU environmental policies by sector and year
Percentage of coastal bathing waters in the European Union per compliance category Percentage of coastal bathing waters in the European Union per compliance category
Share of the EU-27’s environmental footprint exerted outside EU borders Share of the EU-27’s environmental footprint exerted outside EU borders

Figures used

Regional seas surrounding Europe Regional seas surrounding Europe The maps shows the regional seas surrounding Europe and the sustainability challenges they face
Vulnerable people — the elderly are considered to be a group more sensitive to various climatic stress factors than people of a working age Vulnerable people — the elderly are considered to be a group more sensitive to various climatic stress factors than people of a working age The map shows the share of elderly people (>= 65 years) within a city (represented by the dot colours) to the total population (represented by dot size).
Percentage of green urban areas in EU-27 core cities Percentage of green urban areas in EU-27 core cities This map shows the percentage of green urban areas in core cities
Proportion of classified water bodies in different RBDs affected by pollution pressures, for rivers and lakes (left panel) and for coastal and transitional waters (right panel) Proportion of classified water bodies in different RBDs affected by pollution pressures, for rivers and lakes (left panel) and for coastal and transitional waters (right panel) The percentage is based on total number of classified water bodies. See the indicator specification for more details.
Key observed and projected climate change and impacts for the main regions in Europe Key observed and projected climate change and impacts for the main regions in Europe The map shows the observed and projected climate change and impacts for the main biogeographical regions in Europe
Exposure of ecosystems to eutrophication Exposure of ecosystems to eutrophication The maps show areas where critical loads for eutrophication of freshwater and terrestrial habitats are exceeded (CSI 005) by nitrogen depositions caused by emissions between 1980 (top left) and 2030 (bottom right)
Transnational land acquisitions Transnational land acquisitions Transnational land acquisitions refer to the procedure of acquiring land (and freshwater) resources in foreign countries. It is often called 'land grabbing'. Most commonly, investors or investing countries are located in the developed world, while the 'grabbed' land is usually in developing countries.
Regional seas surrounding Europe and the sustainability challenges they face Regional seas surrounding Europe and the sustainability challenges they face The map provides an overview of the many challenges and needs we face on the course towards the sustainable use of our seas and their bountiful, though not unlimited, natural resources.
Indicative map of combined environmental challenges related to land use Indicative map of combined environmental challenges related to land use The map captures some of the complexity of the multiple demands on land resources, with urban sprawl, agricultural intensification and land abandonment exerting pressures on biodiversity and water resources.

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See also

About sustainability transitions About sustainability transitions In its five-yearly flagship report, SOER 2015, the EEA concluded that, despite improvements in recent decades, Europe’s environmental outlook is worrying. The globalised and systemic character of the environmental challenges ahead implies that achieving the EU’s long-term sustainability goals will require fundamental change in core societal systems, in particular those related to food, energy, mobility and the built environment. Achieving such transitions will require much more than incremental efficiency improvements. It will instead demand long-term, profound changes in dominant practices, policies and ways of thinking, which will in turn demand new knowledge. It will mean overcoming the short-termism currently dominating political and economic thinking, and instead embracing long-term, integrated, global perspectives.
Further reading Further reading
SOER 2015 events in EEA countries SOER 2015 events in EEA countries

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The EEA's report SOER 2015 gives a comprehensive assessment of the European environment's state, trends and prospects, in a global context. The EEA's task is to provide timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information on Europe's environment.

For more information, see www.eea.europa.eu/soer or scan the QR code.

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