The European Environment Agency (EEA) has said that the overall state of Europe’s environment is currently ‘not good’, highlighting increased degradation, overexploitation and biodiversity loss.
The EEA made its prognosis in the latest State of Europe’s Environment report, which noted that while ‘significant progress’ has been made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, other factors are trending negative.
The report notes that climate change and environmental degradation pose a ‘direct threat’ to Europe’s competitiveness, adding that achieving climate neutrality by 2050 – a previously-stated objective – will require improved, more responsible management of land, water and other resources.
‘Why we need to act’
“We cannot afford to lower our climate, environment and sustainability ambitions,” commented Leena Ylä-Mononen, EEA executive director. “Our state of environment report, co-created with 38 countries, clearly sets out the science-based knowledge and demonstrates why we need to act.
“In the European Union, we have the policies, the tools and the knowledge, and decades of experience in working together towards our sustainability goals. What we do today will shape our future.”
Positive takeaways from the report include that the European Union has doubled its share of renewables since 2005, while solid progress has been made in terms of improving air quality and increasing waste recycling and resource efficiency over the past decade or so.
Investment in innovation, green employment and sustainable finance also ‘give cause for hope’, it noted.
The EEA is calling for a stepping up of the implementation of policies and actions agreed to under the European Green Deal; actions that align with the European Commission’s Competitiveness Compass priorities on innovation, decarbonisation and security.
‘A stark reminder’
“This report is a stark reminder that Europe must stay the course and even accelerate our climate and environmental ambitions,” added Teresa Ribera, executive vice-president for the Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. “Recent extreme weather events show how fragile our prosperity and security become when nature is degraded, and climate impacts intensify.
“Delaying or postponing our climate targets would only increase costs, deepen inequalities, and weaken our resilience. Protecting nature is not a cost. It is an investment in competitiveness, resilience and the well-being of our citizens. By scaling up action now, we can build a cleaner, fairer and more resilient Europe for future generations.” Read more here.
