Europe Must Intensify Efforts to Protect the Environment

Europe has long been a global leader in combating climate change, but the European Environment Agency (EEA) warned on Monday that more must be done to safeguard the continent’s environment and bolster resilience against global warming.

“Significant progress has been made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, but the overall state of Europe’s environment is not good,” the EEA stated while presenting its latest report.

This warning comes after EU member states failed to present a formal 2035 plan to further reduce greenhouse gases at a recent UN climate summit, due to disagreements among the 27 member nations.

Furthermore, the EU has yet to reach a consensus on a European Commission proposal to cut emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990 levels.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Progress

Despite these gains, the EEA emphasised that EU countries must enhance implementation of policies and undertake long-term sustainability measures already outlined under the European Green Deal.

Environmental Challenges

The report highlights ongoing environmental degradation across Europe:

The EEA noted that up to 40 percent of water used in agriculture, water supply, and energy could be saved through improved governance, technological innovation, water reuse, and public awareness.

“Climate change is a growing challenge, with impacts often indirect—damaging infrastructure, ecosystems, and causing price rises,” the report stated.

Most European buildings were not designed to cope with extreme heat. Currently, 19 percent of Europeans cannot maintain a comfortable temperature at home.

Extreme heatwaves are becoming more frequent, yet only 21 of 38 EEA member countries have health action plans for such events.

Financial Impact of Extreme Weather

The EEA urged Europe to adapt societies and economies to these challenges.

“Human survival depends on high-quality nature, particularly for adapting to climate change,” said Catherine Ganzleben, head of the EEA’s Sustainable and Fair Transitions unit.

“Sustainability is not a choice, it’s a question of timing. Either we start now or defer action, which will increase both difficulty and costs.”

Efforts to prevent pollution have also produced measurable benefits:

The EEA emphasised that reducing pollution not only protects the environment but also lowers deaths and illnesses, highlighting the importance of urgent and coordinated action across Europe.