EU Environment Policy

Latest news on the environment policies of the European Union.

Air pollution better in Europe, but deaths still too high

Almost all Europeans still suffer from air pollution, leading to about 400,000 premature deaths across the continent, according to a report on air quality published Monday by the European Environment Agency.

G20 leaders agree to make Covid vaccines available and affordable for all

At the weekend summit of the G20 countries, leaders expressed a commitment to coordinated global action to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and support for the most vulnerable and fragile countries.

Air quality in Europe - 2020 EEA report

The Air quality in Europe report provides an annual assessment of the status and impacts of air quality and recent air quality trends. The report supports policy development and implementation in the field of air quality at both European and national levels.

EU plans ambitious increase in offshore wind capacity

EU plans for a fivefold increase in Europe's offshore wind capacity by 2030, were outlined Thursday by the Commission in a new strategy for renewables, including ocean energy and emerging technologies.

Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy

To help meet the EU's goal of climate neutrality by 2050, the European Commission presented on 19 November the EU Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy.

EUR 280m EU funding for environment and climate action projects

The EU Commission approved Monday EU funding of EUR 280 million for over 120 new environment, nature, and climate action projects, expected to trigger total investments of nearly EUR 590 million.

Brussels puts forward Atlantic and North Sea 2021 fish quotas

The EU Commission set out its proposal for catch limits for fish stocks in the Atlantic and North Sea Tuesday, the basis for EU fisheries ministers to set final catch limits at a 15-16 December Council.

Eco-schemes feature in EU's greener common farm policy

Farmers will be afforded flexibility on the way to higher environmental standards in farming in the post-2020 common agricultural policy reform package agreed provisionally by EU ministers Wednesday.

EU Baltic 2021 fish quotas to help stocks recover

The EU agreed on 2021 fishing catch limits for the Baltic Sea Tuesday, with an acceptance of the need to continue decreasing the fishing opportunities for several fish stocks to help them recover.

Europe's nature under pressure

Intensive farming, urbanisation and unsustainable forestry are contributing to the decline of protected habitats and species in Europe, a review of vulnerable species and habitats showed Monday.

EU Methane Strategy

The European Commission presented on 14 October an EU strategy to reduce methane emissions.

New EU chemicals strategy targets harmful consumer products

A new strategy on chemicals, unveiled Wednesday by the EU Commission, would prohibit the use of the most harmful chemicals in consumer products such as toys, cosmetics and detergents.

Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability

The European Commission adopted on 14 October the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

EUBCE 2021 - 29th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

The 29th EUBCE will take place from 26th to 29th April, 2021 in Marseille France.

MEPs want to increase 2030 emissions reduction target to 60 pct

All EU Member States must become climate neutral by 2050, the European Parliament said Thursday in a vote on EU climate law, with MEPs calling for ambitious 2030 and 2040 emissions reduction targets.

EU likely to miss targets for recycling plastic packaging

There is a significant risk that the EU will not meet its plastic packaging recycling targets for 2025 and 2030, according to a review published Tuesday by the European Court of Auditors.

EU action to tackle the issue of plastic waste: Review No 04/2020

This review examines the EU's response to the growing problem of plastic waste with a focus on plastic packaging waste. The EU's 2018 plastics strategy proposes measures aiming to improve recyclability, collection, sorting, recycling and recycled content of plastic products. The revised Packaging and Packaging Waste directive set new plastic packaging recycling targets for 2025 (50 %) and 2030 (55 %). New stricter reporting rules will likely lead the EU's reported average plastic packaging recycling rate to drop. Even for plastic packaging, the most developed arm of the plastics strategy, concerted action by stakeholders at EU and Member State level will be required to bridge the considerable gap between the current recycling rate and where we need to be in only 5 to 10 years' time.

EU provisionally agrees to reduce Baltic fishing fleet

The EU Council and European Parliament provisionally agreed Tuesday on measures to support fishermen affected by difficult stocks situations in the Baltic Sea including scrapping vessels.

Brussels revises guidelines for EU Emission Trading

The EU Commission adopted Monday revised guidelines for the EU Emission Trading System in the context of the system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading post-2021 (the ‘ETS Guidelines').

EU launches EUR 1 billion call for green and digital transition

The European Commission launched Thursday a EUR 1 billion call for research and innovation projects that respond to the climate crisis and help protect Europe's unique ecosystems and biodiversity.

EU outlines measures to achieve new climate goal

The EU Commission set out details Thursday of its plan, announced by EC chief Ursula von der Leyen, to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

2030 Climate Target Plan

The European Commission presented on 17 September its plan to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

EU Commission to target 55 pct emissions reductions

EU Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen in her first state of the union speech announced an increase to the 2030 climate target, to 'at least 55%' emissions reductions, up from the previous 40% target.

Free emissions allowances must be better targeted: EU auditors

Free allowances under the EU's 'cap and trade' emissions trading system, distributed to industry, aviation and sometimes electricity sectors, were not well targeted, says an EU auditors' report.

Healthy environment, healthy lives: how the environment influences health and well-being in Europe

A significant proportion of the burden of disease in Europe continues to be attributed to environmental pollution resulting from human activity. This report highlights how the quality of Europe's environment plays a key role in determining our health and well-being.