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Your quarterly update on Europe's Environment
European Environment Agency's Newsletter, Issue 04/2022
Climate, nature and people: a shared future for our planet
"Be it at the climate COP or the biodiversity COP, we are discussing the same problem and the same solution. Climate change and biodiversity loss are two symptoms of the same ailment.
Another future is possible. We can adjust and adopt new habits, build new systems. Together, we can write another story for our planet where we all benefit from a healthier nature and a stable climate and where we have succeeded in minimising the risks and impacts. In 2030, we can be one step closer to that future."
Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director
Interview
Methane: a key greenhouse gas crucial to mitigation efforts
"One of the most immediate and effective mitigation strategies, or low hanging fruit, to limit global warming in the short term is to tackle methane sources and reduce its emissions fast.
Of course, focusing on methane does not mean we lose focus of the other gases. Reductions in all greenhouse gases are needed to achieve the long-term climate goals."
Interview with Ricardo Fernandez, EEA climate change mitigation expert.
In the spotlight: Climate and energy
Trends and projections: limited rebound in EU emissions amid post-pandemic recovery and energy crisis
Greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption rose in 2021 due mostly to Europe’s post-pandemic recovery, according to the latest ‘Trends and Projections’ report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Most EU Member States successfully achieved the EU’s 2020 climate and energy targets and are now turning their sights toward climate neutrality while also addressing the current energy supply crisis.
EEA Signals: Moving towards sustainability in times of multiple crises and uncertainty
Europe is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, faced with a war in Ukraine and committed to ambitious goals of the European Green Deal for protecting the climate, nature and people’s health. ‘EEA Signals 2022 – Staying on course for a sustainable Europe’ provides a snapshot of the Agency’s assessment and data that are linked to this context and making Europe’s energy system more secure and sustainable.
Latest indicators & datasets
Biodiversity
Natura 2000 sites designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives
Eutrophication caused by atmospheric nitrogen deposition in Europe
Datasets on Natura 2000 data - the European network of protected sites; Invasive Alien Species reporting under EU Regulation 1143/2014
Climate change
- GHG emission trends and projections; under the EU Emissions Trading System; from agriculture; from energy use in buildings
- Progress towards national GHG emissions targets
- Primary and final energy consumption
Share of energy consumption from renewable sources
GHG emission intensity of electricity generation in Europe
Consumption of ozone-depleting substances
Datasets: ozone depleting substances; Member States' GHG emission projections; Approx. estimates for the share of gross final consumption of renewable energy sources; Approx estimates for the primary and final consumption of energy; Approx estimates for GHG emissions; GHG emissions under the Effort Sharing Decision; Fluorinated greenhouse gases .
Environment & health
Emissions of the main air pollutants
Premature deaths due to exposure to fine particulate matter
Datasets: exposure of vulnerable groups and social infrastructure to climate-related risks; Air Quality Health Risk Assessments
Industry
Datasets: Reported information on large combustion plants under the Energy Community Treaty
Land & Soil
- GHG emissions from land use, land use change and forestry in Europe
- Progress in the management of contaminated sites
Datasets: European agricultural areas based on Copernicus data; Copernicus Land Monitoring Service - Medium Resolution Vegetation Phenology and Productivity; concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in European agricultural soils
Resource efficiency & waste
Transport
- Emissions of air pollutants from transport in Europe
- CO2 performance of new passenger cars and vans
- GHG emissions from transport
- New registrations of electric vehicles
- Use of renewable energy for transport
- GHG emission intensity of fuels and biofuels for road transport in Europe
Datasets: Monitoring of CO2 emissions from passenger cars – and vans.
Water & marine
- Nutrients in transitional, coastal and marine waters
- Nutrients in freshwater
- Pesticides in rivers, lakes and groundwater
- Oxygen consuming substances in European rivers
Datasets: Waterbase - UWWTD: Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive – reported data
Upcoming
22 March 2023 - EEA conference, Brussels, Belgium
The European Environment Agency and Eionet will bring together stakeholders on a partly hybrid conference on the EEA and Eionet's contributions to the EU's climate and environment policies and goal. More detailed information, including the programme and registration information will be available in January.
In case you missed - EEA news since September
Most plastic consumption in Europe lacks direct policy targets and data
Zero pollution: 2030 targets within reach but need stronger actionP
Methane emissions on a downward trend, but accelerated cuts needed to meet EU climate targets
Premature deaths due to air pollution continue to fall in the EU, more efforts needed to deliver a toxic-free environment
Cities can offer new opportunities for prosumers of renewable energy
Post-pandemic recovery offers European cities chance to boost shift to sustainability
Serious challenges in Europe's agri-food systems
EU unlikely to meet noise target by 2030
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