Biodiversity loss and ecosystem decline are expected to continue – Image: Andreas Vitting/imageBROKER/picture alliance
Despite progress in climate change action, Europe’s environment is being seriously degraded, according to a new report. Researchers say environmental damage threatens competitiveness and quality of life on the continent.
Europe’s environment is struggling, according to a report released Tuesday by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
The report found that nature in Europe is facing levels of degradation, overexploitation and biodiversity loss that pose a direct threat to European stability, security and living standards.
Released every five years by the Copenhagen-based EU agency, the report is the most comprehensive assessment of the environment, climate and sustainability in the region.
Despite progress in areas such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the ramping up of renewable energy, the report found that the overall state of Europe’s environment is “not good”.
EU officials said the report was a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining and strengthening green policies and ambitions.
“Delaying or postponing our climate targets would only increase costs, deepen inequalities and weaken our resilience,” said Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s executive vice president for “a clean, just and competitive transition.” She said protecting nature was an investment in competitiveness and the well-being of people in Europe.
Intense logging, wildfires and drought have led to 30% decline in the EU’s carbon sink – Image: Pedro Pascual/Anadolu Agency/IMAGO
Biodiversity and ecosystem decline set to continue
Unsustainable production and consumption patterns driven by the food system are leading to a decline in biodiversity across land and water in Europe. An estimated 80% of protected habitats are in a poor or bad state, and 60-70% of soils are degraded.
This downward trend is on track to continue, with the report stating that the EU’s nature restoration targets for 2030 were unlikely to be met.
Water resources in the European Union are also under “severe pressure,” with water stress currently affecting about one-third of Europe and only 37% of surface water bodies maintaining positive ecological status. Agriculture was responsible for much of this degradation, with fertilizer and pesticides affecting water quality and leading to a loss of aquatic life.
The European Union’s “carbon sink” has also declined by about 30% over the past decade because of factors such as more frequent and widespread tree logging, intense wildfires and droughts.
Carbon sinks such as forests and oceans are important in the fight against climate change as they draw carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Europe has made strides in reducing emissions and ramping up renewables – Image: Geraint Tellem/robertharding/picture alliance
Climate change an urgent challenge
The impacts of accelerating climate change remain an “urgent challenge,” according to the report.
Europe is the fastest-warming continent on the planet, with temperatures increasing at double the global average rate. Amid record breaking heat waves this summer, countries across the continent battled intense wildfires, which burned through more than 1 million hectares (2.4 million acres) of land.
Though Europe has made strides in reducing greenhouse gases by 37% compared with 1990 and doubling renewable energy in electricity generation, transport emissions have only marginally reduced. Much of the sector remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
Reductions have been similarly limited in agriculture, which contributes 93% of the European Union’s ammonia air emissions and is the biggest cause of pollinator decline and soil degradation.
Agriculture is a key driver in the degradation of Europe’s water bodies – Image: Jens Büttner/dpa/picture alliance
Protecting nature key to economy and security
The report stresses throughout that natural resources provide the bedrock for Europe’s economic prosperity, with close to three-quarters of businesses being “critically dependent” on ecosystem services such as water supply and healthy soils.
“We need to rethink the link between the environment and the economy and look at the protection of nature as an investment, not a cost,” said Jessika Roswall, the EU commissioner for environment, water resilience and a competitive crircular economy. “Healthy nature is the basis for a healthy society, a competitive economy and a resilient world.”
The report found that decarbonizing the economy, shifting towards a circular economy low in waste, reducing pollution and more responsible management of natural resources is urgently needed. Protecting nature will also help ensure vital aspects of European well-being such as food security and clean drinking water.
Green jobs, innovation and sustainable finance were all highlighted as potential ways of securing progress and grounds for optimism. The report found that more investment in the green transformation of industry could lead to Europe becoming a global leader in developing technologies to decarbonize highly polluting industries such as steel and cement.
(DW.com/NAN 01-10-25)
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