Editorial

"Thanks to legislation, technology and moves away from heavily polluting fossil fuels in many countries, Europe’s air quality has been improving in recent decades. However, many people continue to be negatively affected by air pollution, especially in cities. Given its complexity, tackling air pollution requires taking coordinated action at many levels. To get citizens involved, providing them timely information in an accessible way is essential. Our recently launched Air Quality Index does just that. Improvements in air quality would not only benefit our health, but could also help tackle climate change."

Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director

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"If we continue the current pace of renewable deployment, the EU would meet the 2030 target of 27% energy use coming from renewable sources, but there is some evidence that renewable energy deployment has slightly slowed down in 2015 and 2016 compared to the average pace recorded since 2005," says Melanie Sporer, EEA expert on climate change mitigation and energy.

Interview with Melanie Sporer on the European climate and energy targets, and EEA's work in this area.  

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European Union efforts to phase-down the production and import of fluorinated greenhouse-gases made good progress in 2016, according to the latest annual update published by the European Environment Agency. Read more

Europe’s transport sector is making only mixed progress in meeting its environment, health and climate policy targets, according to a EEA assessment, which tracks the short and long-term environmental performance of this key economic sector across the European Union. Read more

The European Union is making stronger progress towards a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy than in protecting biodiversity, natural capital and people’s health. An annual European Environment Agency environmental indicator report analyses whether the EU is achieving by 2020 a selected set of environmental objectives. Read more

The European Union and most of its Member States are on track to reach their 2020 targets on renewable energy and energy efficiency. However, recent increases in energy consumption are slowing down progress. The new EEA analysis calls for Member States to keep energy consumption in check, particularly in times of economic growth, and to accelerate the decarbonisation of the EU energy system. Read more

Investing in ‘green infrastructure’ like restoring floodplains or wetlands to bolster flood prevention not only generates more environmental and socio-economic benefits, especially in the long term, but also lowers the amount of financial investment needed to defend against damaging floods. Read more

Greenhouse gas emissions across the European Union decreased modestly in 2016, according to estimates published in the latest climate ‘trends and projections’ assessments. The estimates confirm that the EU remains on track to meet its emission reduction target set for 2020, but more work is needed to meet longer-term goals. Read more

Building stronger links between climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction experts is more important than ever in wake of recent devastating and extreme weather events. Closer cooperation, including better policy alignment, will be crucial to reduce the impacts of weather- and climate-related hazards. Read more

Making Europe’s production, consumption and trade in food environmentally sustainable is possible, but it will require a major shift in public attitudes, policies and knowledge and seizing current opportunities for change, according to a European Environment Agency report. Read more

A new European Air Quality Index, launched  by the European Environment Agency and the European Commission, allows users to check the current air quality across Europe’s cities and regions. The Index is accompanied by new country fact sheets that provide updated air quality information for EEA member countries. Read more

Most people living in European cities are exposed to poor air quality. Latest estimates by the EEA show that fine particulate matter continues to cause the premature death of more than 400 000 Europeans annually. Road transport, agriculture, power plants, industry and households are the biggest emitters of air pollutants in Europe. Read more

Green Week 2018 will explore ways in which the EU is helping cities to become better places to live and work. Showcasing policy developments on air quality, noise, nature and biodiversity, waste and water management. Read more

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