EEA presents crucial report on Europe’s environment

Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average. Extreme weather events are impacting people′s everyday lives all over the continent and Europe’s water management is still poorly adapted to this rapidly changing climate. The report Europe′s environment 2025 was presented on 29 September by the European Environment Agency (EEA). It provides a concerning picture of the current state of Europe’s environment.

The EEA report has been prepared in close collaboration with the European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) based on data from across 38 countries. “Europe needs integrated responses that reflect the interdependence of climate, environment, economy, and security. Such decisions cannot be guided by disinformation or ungrounded opinions. They must rest on solid, trusted knowledge”, explains EEA Executive Director Leena Ylä-Mononen. She emphasizes that trusted knowledge can be found in this report. “Only by restoring the natural environment will European citizens be able to maintain a high quality of life.”

Source: EIONET

Water resources under pressure

Obviously, water is playing a key role in the report. ‘Europe′s water resources are under severe pressure. Water stress currently affects 30% of Europe’s territory and 34% of the population. Only 37% of Europe’s surface water bodies had a good or high ecological status in 2021. The degradation of aquatic ecosystems is threatening Europe′s water resilience. Agriculture is responsible for the most significant pressure on both surface and groundwater. Fertiliser and pesticide runoff degrade water quality, promoting excessive algae growth, deplete oxygen levels and drive the loss of aquatic life’, states the EEA report

Droughts and floods

Europe’s climate is changing at an alarming rate. The report refers to several regions that have been subject to catastrophic floods in recent years. ‘In 2023, floods in Slovenia resulted in a 16% loss of gross domestic product. Meanwhile, in 2024 floods in Valencia caused over 250 fatalities. Southern Europe is plagued by water scarcity and wildfires, with droughts impacting food production, the energy sector and public water supply. Extreme heat, once rare, is becoming more frequent, with deadly consequences. Over 70,000 people in Europe are estimated to have died from heat in 2022.’

Economic losses increasing

Weather- and climate-related extremes caused economic losses of assets estimated at EUR 738 billion in the 27 Member States of the EU over the period 1980-2023, with over EUR 162 billion in costs from 2021 to 2023 alone. In addition, the insurance protection gap across Europe is substantial. Most countries report over 50% of losses as uninsured. ‘The gap has also been widening over time, as uninsured losses have grown at a faster rate than insured losses.’

Guaranteeing food security

Reduced water availability and quality, present risks to Europe′s food security, with southern Europe particularly hard hit. In 2022 and 2023, severe drought in parts of Europe led to considerable agricultural losses that translated into higher food prices for consumers. There is an urgent need for Europe′s agricultural sector to adapt to extreme weather events to guarantee the EU′s long-term food security. There is a role for biodiversity in providing solutions for adaptation to changing climatic conditions for food production in Europe, for example as a source of drought-resistant species.

Plans need to be fit for the future

The report warns that choices taken today need to be fit for the future climate, for example in areas like land-use planning and long-lived infrastructure. ‘It is essential to identify the assets at risk from climate-driven extreme weather events and develop strategies that will build social resilience to climate change. Currently, around 12% of the European population lives in flood-prone areas, while 11% of healthcare facilities and nearly 15% of industrial facilities in Europe are sited in such areas. In terms of economic vulnerability to climate change, there is an urgent need for actors in the real economy to assess exposure to climate risks along their value chains and to develop adaptation strategies. Likewise, the financial sector must take climate-related risks into account in their risk management frameworks and foster transparency around climate-related and environmental disclosures.’

Implementation of measures lagging behind

According to the new report, all EU Member States have a national adaptation policy in place and many have regional or sectoral adaptation policies or action plans. The number of sub‑regional authorities with adaptation plans in place has also increased substantially over the past decade. ‘Despite these well-developed governance frameworks, implementation of adaptation measures lags substantially behind the rapidly increasing risk levels. This is due to challenges related to regional and local coordination and limitations in financial, technical and human capacities.’ Among European businesses and companies, there is a growing recognition that a failure to account for, mitigate and adapt to nature and climate risks threatens business models and financial stability.

European way of life at risk

The report warns that the degradation of our natural world jeopardises the European way of life. ‘Healthy ecosystems underpin food and water security and supply raw materials, water and energy to the production and consumption systems that deliver our food, mobility, housing, energy and goods. Ecosystem degradation and climate change also threaten financial stability, with close to three-quarters of businesses producing goods and services in the euro area being critically dependent on ecosystem services. A loss of services such as water supply, healthy soils or pollination impacts production and translates into financial risk, while floods, droughts and forest fires can damage assets.’

State of environment report

The EEA publishes a state of environment report every five years as mandated in its regulation. Europe’s environment 2025 is the 7th report published by the EEA since 1995. It offers solid, science-based insights on how we must respond to the huge and complex challenges we face, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and air and water pollution.