Europe faces deep-rooted challenges in areas such as biodiversity loss, resource use, the impacts of climate change and environmental risks to health and well-being. The continent consumes more resources than any other region of the world and continues to make a major contribution to environmental degradation.
Policy measures aimed at nature conservation have been effective in some areas, but many problems remain and some are even worsening. For example, water quality has improved due to reduced pollution, but by 2015 only 40% of the EU’s surface waters achieved a good ecological status. Land management has improved, but landscape fragmentation continues to increase, damaging habitats and biodiversity. 75% of Europe’s ecological areas are exposed to excessive nitrogen levels, causing eutrophication. The impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystems are expected to intensify, and activities such as agriculture, fishing, transport, industry and energy production continue to cause biodiversity loss, resource extraction and harmful emissions.
Although great progress has been made to reduce air pollution from industry, transport and homes, and as a result the number of deaths related to air pollution has fallen, more than 10% of premature deaths per year in the EU are linked to environmental pollution. There is growing evidence that citizens’ health is being adversely affected by hazardous chemicals.
Projections to 2030 suggest that current rates of progress will not be sufficient to meet the 2030 and 2050 climate and energy goals.
Europe has made progress on resource efficiency and circular economy. As gross domestic product increased, material consumption remained relatively stable and resource efficiency improved. Water withdrawals across the EU fell by 15% between 2000 and 2019.
As set out in the European Green Deal, Europe aims to become a climate-neutral continent by 2050. Facing the sustainability challenges outlined above and achieving sustainability will require a complete transformation of key systems, including how we grow food, produce and consume goods, travel and build cities, while at the same time making nature more resilient and preparing for the impacts of climate change.
