Environment

What the EU does

The European Union’s environment policies aim to protect, preserve and improve the environment for present and future generations, and promote sustainable development.

A green transition will enable EU citizens to live well, within the planet's ecological limits. Our mission is to build an innovative circular economy, grounded in sound ecosystems. Vital biodiversity must be protected and restored, and pollution and health risks eliminated.

This approach is also applied at the international level, helping position the EU as a champion of the green transition on the global stage.

The EU’s main environmental objectives are

achieving the 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target and climate neutrality by 2050
enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilienceand reducing vulnerability to climate change
advancing towards a regenerative growth model, decoupling economic growth from resource use and environmental degradation, and accelerating the transition to a circular economy
pursuing a zero-pollution ambition, including for air, water and soil and protecting the health and well-being of Europeans
protecting, preserving and restoring biodiversity, and enhancing natural capital
reducing environmental and climate pressures related to production and consumption

Facts about the environment

1/2 of all bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian and fish species lost in the last 50 years

Over 200,000 deaths per year caused by air pollution in Europe

Every €1 invested in nature restoration produces at least €4 in benefits

Areas of action

Circular economy

Discover policies promoting sustainable products, waste management and recycling, restricting industrial emissions, tackling plastic and packaging waste.

Nature and biodiversity

Learn how EU protects species, pollinators, habitats and forest, and restores nature and urban environment.

Pollution

Actions towards zero pollution of air, water and soil to create a toxic-free environment.

Key achievements

The Natura 2000 network of 27 000 protected sites now covers almost 1/5 of land in the EU, protects hundreds of species and habitats and provides vital services and income for millions of Europeans.
Thanks to an increase in resource productivity of about 35% since 2000, EU greenhouse gas emissions from production fell by around 25 from 2008-2021, showing that the transition to a circular economy plays an important role in the path to climate neutrality.
Total EU waste generation by all economic activities and households fell by almost 3% over the last decade to reach 4.8 tonnes per capita in 2020.
The EU Ecolabel now appears on nearly 100,000 products, guaranteeing a reduced impact on the environment and preventing greenwashing.
A 45% reduction in health impacts from air pollution has been achieved since 2005, thanks to regulatory improvements and emissions reductions that have led to significant decreases in premature deaths.
Plastic sea litter has been reduced by around 1/3 since 2015.
The EU is a global leader in striving to achieve climate and environmental objectives through international commitments: the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the UN Global Plastics Treaty.
Several important new laws with long-term impact include the Nature Restoration Law, the Deforestation Regulation, and the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation.

In focus

New EU law to better protect water enters into force

The EU directive revising the lists of pollutants in surface and groundwaters has entered into force, ensuring they reflect the latest scientific advice and that substances are monitored more closely and subject to stricter controls.

The list of water pollutants includes newly identified substances harmful to the environment and human health, such as PFAS, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals. The revised law also introduces a new method that assesses the combined impact of pollutants on water quality, rather than measuring substances individually, which could make monitoring more thorough and efficient.