Overview

• The five-year assessment across 38 countries reports about 81% of protected habitats in poor or very poor condition, 60–70% of soils degraded, and 62% of waters failing good ecological status.
• Europe is heating roughly twice as fast as the global average, intensifying droughts, floods and health risks, the agency warns.
• Average annual losses from weather extremes in 2020–2023 were about 2.5 times higher than in 2010–2019, with Slovenia’s 2023 floods causing damage equal to roughly 16% of GDP.
• Intensive agriculture and ongoing land take are identified as primary pressures on biodiversity, soils and water, with the EEA highlighting potential efficiency gains such as large water savings through reuse and better governance.
• Despite deterioration, the EU has cut greenhouse gas emissions by around 37% since 1990, doubled renewable power’s share since 2005, and reduced fine-particle pollution deaths by about 45% since 2005.