Overview

• The European Environment Agency’s 2025 assessment finds overall environmental conditions deteriorating despite a 37% drop in EU greenhouse gases since 1990.
• Data from 38 countries show 81% of protected habitats in poor or mediocre condition, 60–70% of soils degraded, and 62% of water bodies below good ecological status.
• Weather- and climate-related extremes caused more than 240,000 EU deaths since 1980, with average annual losses 2.5 times higher in 2020–2023 and total losses of €738 billion since 1980.
• Recent years averaged €44.5 billion in annual losses, while heat vulnerability remains high, with 19% unable to keep homes comfortable and only 21 of 38 countries having heat-health plans.
• The report lands as member states endorse a low-ambition 2035 emissions compromise and remain divided over a 90% reduction target for 2040, leaving long-term goals unresolved before global climate meetings.