Water and marine environment

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Global mean sea level projections up to 2100 for three representative concentration pathways (RCPs).

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Global mean sea level in 2018 was higher than any year since measurements started in the late 19th century, about 20 cm higher than at the beginning of the 20th century. Global sea level rise has accelerated since the 1960s. The average rate of sea level rise over the period 1993-2018, when satellite measurements have been available, has been around 3.3 mm/year. Evidence for a predominant role of anthropogenic climate change in the observed global mean sea level rise and in the acceleration over recent decades has strengthened since the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report. All coastal regions in Europe have experienced an increase in absolute sea level, but with significant regional variation. Most coastal regions have also experienced an increase in sea level relative to land. The rate of global mean sea level rise during the 21st century will very likely be higher than during the period 1971-2015. Process-based models considered in the IPCC special report on the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate project a rise in sea level over the 21st century in the range of 0.29-0.59 m for a low-emissions scenario and 0.61-1.10 m for a high-emissions scenario. However, substantially higher values cannot be ruled out. Several recent model-based studies, expert assessments and national assessments have suggested an upper bound for 21st century global mean sea level rise in the range of 1.5-2.5 m. Global mean sea level in 2300 will likely be 0.6-1.1 m above current levels for a low-emissions scenario and 2.3-5.4 m for a high-emissions scenario. These values will rise substantially if the largest estimates of sea level contributions from Antarctica over the coming centuries are included. The rise in sea level relative to land along most European coasts is projected to be similar to the global average, with the exception of the northern Baltic Sea and the northern Atlantic coast, which are experiencing considerable land rise as a consequence of post-glacial rebound. Extreme high coastal water levels have increased at most locations along the European coastline. This increase appears to have been predominantly due to increases in mean local sea level rather than changes in storm activity. Projected increases in extreme high coastal water levels are likely to be primarily the result of increases in local relative mean sea levels in most locations. However, several recent studies suggest that increases in the meteorologically driven surge component could also play a substantial role, in particular along the northern European coastline. All available studies project that damages from coastal floods in Europe would increase many fold in the absence of adaptation, although the specific projections depend on the assumptions of the particular study.

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The extent and volume of Arctic sea ice is declining rapidly. Over the period 1979–2019, the Arctic has lost, on average, 82 000 km 2 per year by the end of summer and 42 000 km 2 of sea ice per year in winter. Arctic summer sea ice in each of the last 13 years (2007–2019) was lower than in any previous year (1979–2006). Arctic winter sea ice in 2018 and 2017 were the lowest on record. The Arctic sea ice is also getting younger and thinner. Arctic sea ice is projected to continue shrinking and thinning. At current emission rates, a nearly ice-free Arctic Ocean at the end of summer is likely before mid-century. Reduced Arctic sea ice is accelerating global warming through the ice-albedo feedback. Arctic sea ice decline has also been linked to changing climate and weather extremes in Europe and beyond. The maximum sea ice extent in the Baltic Sea shows a decreasing trend since about 1800. The decrease appears to have accelerated since the 1980s, but the interannual variability is large. Baltic Sea ice, in particular the extent of the maximal cover, is projected to continue to shrink.

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The figure shows decadal global and regionally averaged sea-surface temperature anomalies relative to a 1981-2010 baseline. The solid line shows a satellite-based series combining the SST CCI analysis (to 2016) with the OSTIA near-real time updates (to 2018). The shaded area in each plot indicates the upper and lower uncertainty range of the long-term evolution of the regional averages based on three global data sets (HadSST.4.0.0.0, ERSSTv5 and HadISST).

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Left map: Scenario RCP4.5; right map: Scenario RCP8.5. The lines represent the areas in which at least two-third of the simulations used agree over the sign of change.

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The Water Framework Directive (WFD) protected area data sets include information about European drinking water protected areas, designated waters such as fish protected areas and shellfish protected areas, nitrates vulnerable zones, urban waste water sensitive areas and bathing water protected areas. The protected areas are part of the Water Framework Directive register of protected areas and were reported in second River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) or under other related reporting obligations. The data sets are part of the Water Information System for Europe (WISE), and compile information reported by the EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland to the European Commission (EC) and the European Environment Agency (EEA).

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The map shows dissolved oxygen concentrations in the water column near the seafloor, observed in summer/autumn of the years 2013-2017. Purple: <2 mg/l; Light purple: 2-4 mg/l; Light green: 4-6 mg/l; Green: >6 mg/l

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Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive concerns the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water and the treatment and discharge of waste water from certain industrial sectors. The objective of the Directive is to protect the environment from the adverse effects of the above mentioned waste water discharges.

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The map reflects the most recent available information at the EU-level on implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) in EU 28 plus Iceland based on data reported by the Member States (for reference year 2016) in 2018.

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The WISE Water Framework Directive map contains information from the 2nd River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) reported by EU Members States and Norway according to article 13 of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The maps include the River Basin Districts (RBDs) and their sub-units, the surface water bodies (water body category, ecological status or potential and chemical status), the groundwater bodies (aquifer type, quantitative status and chemical status) and the monitoring sites.

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The illustration shows the distribution of marine litter reported by the public and where they were found

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Global mean sea level in 2018 was higher than any year since measurements started in the late 19th century, about 20 cm higher than at the beginning of the 20th century. Global sea level rise has accelerated since the 1960s. The average rate of sea level rise over the period 1993-2018, when satellite measurements have been available, has been around 3.3 mm/year. Evidence for a predominant role of anthropogenic climate change in the observed global mean sea level rise and in the acceleration over recent decades has strengthened since the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report. All coastal regions in Europe have experienced an increase in absolute sea level, but with significant regional variation. Most coastal regions have also experienced an increase in sea level relative to land. The rate of global mean sea level rise during the 21st century will very likely be higher than during the period 1971-2015. Process-based models considered in the IPCC special report on the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate project a rise in sea level over the 21st century in the range of 0.29-0.59 m for a low-emissions scenario and 0.61-1.10 m for a high-emissions scenario. However, substantially higher values cannot be ruled out. Several recent model-based studies, expert assessments and national assessments have suggested an upper bound for 21st century global mean sea level rise in the range of 1.5-2.5 m. Global mean sea level in 2300 will likely be 0.6-1.1 m above current levels for a low-emissions scenario and 2.3-5.4 m for a high-emissions scenario. These values will rise substantially if the largest estimates of sea level contributions from Antarctica over the coming centuries are included. The rise in sea level relative to land along most European coasts is projected to be similar to the global average, with the exception of the northern Baltic Sea and the northern Atlantic coast, which are experiencing considerable land rise as a consequence of post-glacial rebound. Extreme high coastal water levels have increased at most locations along the European coastline. This increase appears to have been predominantly due to increases in mean local sea level rather than changes in storm activity. Projected increases in extreme high coastal water levels are likely to be primarily the result of increases in local relative mean sea levels in most locations. However, several recent studies suggest that increases in the meteorologically driven surge component could also play a substantial role, in particular along the northern European coastline. All available studies project that damages from coastal floods in Europe would increase many fold in the absence of adaptation, although the specific projections depend on the assumptions of the particular study.

Read more

Global mean sea level projections up to 2100 for three representative concentration pathways (RCPs).

Read more

The extent and volume of Arctic sea ice is declining rapidly. Over the period 1979–2019, the Arctic has lost, on average, 82 000 km 2 per year by the end of summer and 42 000 km 2 of sea ice per year in winter. Arctic summer sea ice in each of the last 13 years (2007–2019) was lower than in any previous year (1979–2006). Arctic winter sea ice in 2018 and 2017 were the lowest on record. The Arctic sea ice is also getting younger and thinner. Arctic sea ice is projected to continue shrinking and thinning. At current emission rates, a nearly ice-free Arctic Ocean at the end of summer is likely before mid-century. Reduced Arctic sea ice is accelerating global warming through the ice-albedo feedback. Arctic sea ice decline has also been linked to changing climate and weather extremes in Europe and beyond. The maximum sea ice extent in the Baltic Sea shows a decreasing trend since about 1800. The decrease appears to have accelerated since the 1980s, but the interannual variability is large. Baltic Sea ice, in particular the extent of the maximal cover, is projected to continue to shrink.

Read more

The figure shows decadal global and regionally averaged sea-surface temperature anomalies relative to a 1981-2010 baseline. The solid line shows a satellite-based series combining the SST CCI analysis (to 2016) with the OSTIA near-real time updates (to 2018). The shaded area in each plot indicates the upper and lower uncertainty range of the long-term evolution of the regional averages based on three global data sets (HadSST.4.0.0.0, ERSSTv5 and HadISST).

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Left map: Scenario RCP4.5; right map: Scenario RCP8.5. The lines represent the areas in which at least two-third of the simulations used agree over the sign of change.

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The Water Framework Directive (WFD) protected area data sets include information about European drinking water protected areas, designated waters such as fish protected areas and shellfish protected areas, nitrates vulnerable zones, urban waste water sensitive areas and bathing water protected areas. The protected areas are part of the Water Framework Directive register of protected areas and were reported in second River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) or under other related reporting obligations. The data sets are part of the Water Information System for Europe (WISE), and compile information reported by the EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland to the European Commission (EC) and the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Read more

The map shows dissolved oxygen concentrations in the water column near the seafloor, observed in summer/autumn of the years 2013-2017. Purple: <2 mg/l; Light purple: 2-4 mg/l; Light green: 4-6 mg/l; Green: >6 mg/l

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It is easy to take water for granted. Clean water comes out of a tap, we use the water and then ‘dirty’ water disappears down the drain. In this way, the water that leaves our homes, schools and workplaces is contaminated. For most European citizens, such waste water is collected, transported and then treated at an urban waste water treatment plant, to remove components harmful to the environment and human health, before the water is returned to nature (EEA, 2018). The importance of access to clean water and sanitation is embedded in Goal 6 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN, n.d). Supplying clean water and collecting waste water has required huge investment across Europe in recent decades. In this briefing, we show that challenges to securing sustainable water in future, such as climate change, present new opportunities for resource efficiency and improved environmental protection.

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Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive concerns the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water and the treatment and discharge of waste water from certain industrial sectors. The objective of the Directive is to protect the environment from the adverse effects of the above mentioned waste water discharges.

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More investment is needed to make urban waste water treatment plants fit to meet the difficult challenges posed by the impacts of climate change, as well as the presence of antibiotics and other micro-pollutants in waste water, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing published today.

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The map reflects the most recent available information at the EU-level on implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) in EU 28 plus Iceland based on data reported by the Member States (for reference year 2016) in 2018.

Read more

The WISE Water Framework Directive map contains information from the 2nd River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) reported by EU Members States and Norway according to article 13 of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The maps include the River Basin Districts (RBDs) and their sub-units, the surface water bodies (water body category, ecological status or potential and chemical status), the groundwater bodies (aquifer type, quantitative status and chemical status) and the monitoring sites.

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Just over 85% of bathing water sites across Europe monitored last year met the European Union’s highest ‘excellent’ and most stringent quality standards for water cleanliness, according to the latest annual European bathing water quality report. The results published today give a good indication of where the best quality bathing waters are likely to be found this summer.

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The report assesses bathing water quality in 2018, indicating where the quality of bathing water is expected to be good in 2019. The report was compiled using information from more than 21 000 bathing waters in the 28 EU Member States. It also covers bathing waters in Albania and Switzerland. The report is a joint production of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission.

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Many people still associate mercury with thermometers and most also know that it is toxic. Because of its toxicity, mercury is on its way out from products in Europe but a lot of it is still circulating in air, water, soil and ecosystems. Is mercury still a problem and what is being done about it? We interviewed Ian Marnane, EEA expert on sustainable resource use and industry.

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Climate change is increasing the pressure on water bodies. From floods and droughts to ocean acidification and rising sea levels, the impacts of climate change on water are expected to intensify in the years ahead. These changes are prompting action across Europe. Cities and regions are already adapting, using more sustainable, nature-based solutions to lessen the impact of floods and using water in smarter, more sustainable ways to enable us to live with droughts.

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The illustration shows the distribution of marine litter reported by the public and where they were found

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