'Groundwater: making the invisible visible' is the World Water Day theme for 22 March 2022. In recognition of this, this briefing provides an overview of the state of groundwater in the EU. Groundwater stores almost one third of total global freshwater resources and, in the EU, supplies 65% of d...
Climate change mitigation and nature restoration are two sides of the same coin when it comes to achieving two main objectives of the European Green Deal; climate neutrality and increasing the EU’s natural capital. Well-functioning habitats can take up and store large amounts of carbon, reducing...
Municipal waste accounts for 27% of total waste generated in the EU (excluding mineral waste). If not managed properly, it can have significant negative impacts on both human health and the environment. The 2020 EU circular economy action plan aims to halve the quantity of municipal waste not re...
Air quality remains a persistent problem in Europe, harming health and ecosystems. This briefing reviews the status of countries air quality plans, put in place for situations where air pollution limits are exceeded. It also identifies the sources behind such exceedances. The assessment covers ...
Awareness is increasing about the presence of microplastics in our seas, land and air - and of their negative effects on ecosystems, animals and people. Microplastics can be released directly into the environment or can result from the degradation of larger pieces of plastic. The wearing and was...
This briefing looks at the role of environmental taxes through two lenses. First, it analyses past and current trends in taxes in their ability to raise revenues, and their use as a basis for reform programmes that aim to shift taxes from labour and capital to resource use and environmental poll...
The EU adaptation strategy aims to build resilience and ensure that Europe is well prepared to manage the risks from and adapt to the impacts of climate change, including limiting economic losses and other harm. All regions of Europe face economic losses and fatalities from weather and climate e...
This briefing belongs to the 'Narratives for Change' series, which explores the diversity of ideas needed to move our society towards sustainability and fulfil the ambitions of the European Green Deal. The briefing reflects on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. It asks how these les...
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on carbon emissions in Europe. In 2020, emissions from stationary installations covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) declined by 11.4% (surpassing the 9% decrease seen in 2019). Aviation was even more acutely impacted. The risk of a ...
For climate change mitigation policies to be successful in reducing greenhouse gas emissions their potential social implications need to be considered and addressed. Together with multiple-level governance coordination and societal participation, these are the key success factors to achieve win-...