Chapter 4
Towards a climate-neutral Europe
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The European Green Deal is the European Union’s response to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. To protect people and the planet, the EU has committed to becoming climate neutral – an economy with net-zero emissions and free of harmful pollution – by 2050, mainly by cutting emissions, investing in green technologies and protecting the natural environment. This is part of a new growth model for Europe based on a clean and circular economy, promoting a clean transition that is economically sound and socially fair. In 2024, the focus was on implementing the legal framework of the European Green Deal to reach the EU’s 2030 climate target and to prepare the way for a 2040 target under the European Climate Law. In another year marked by weather extremes and their devastating impacts, the importance of enhancing climate resilience was highlighted by the publication of the European Climate Risk Assessment, followed by the announcement of a European Climate Adaptation Plan.
In another record-breaking year for global temperatures, Europe continued to experience the harsh realities of a rapidly changing climate. EU Member States and regions faced multiple climate extremes – from persistent droughts in southern Europe and severe wildfires in Portugal and the Mediterranean to deadly floods in central and eastern Europe and in Spain, which together claimed more than 250 lives.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism - open a new tab. saw a notable increase in activations in response to extreme weather events. These trends highlight the escalating impact of climate change on the continent, prompting greater demand for coordinated disaster response. As the effects of climate change intensify, European nations have stepped up their cooperation and shown solidarity in times of crisis. In 2024, the EU took further steps to strengthen its Civil Protection Mechanism to better prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters across the EU and beyond. This included strengthening its rescEU - open a new tab. firefighting fleet and strategically positioning firefighters across key locations in Europe to support local fire brigades.
The annual European State of the Climate report - open a new tab. underscored the alarming trend of rising temperatures, with Europe warming at twice the global average, and stressed the need for the EU to become climate neutral and climate resilient. Extreme weather events have become more frequent and severe, leading to increases in heat-related deaths, severe marine heatwaves and disruptions to agriculture, water supplies and infrastructure.
Towards greater climate resilience
The devastation and destruction caused by extreme weather events highlights the urgent need to be better prepared to anticipate and respond to the effects of climate change. Just as the EU is taking action to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and limit climate change, so it must also build resilience to those impacts that are unavoidable. In response to the first-ever European Climate Risk Assessment - open a new tab., published by the European Environment Agency, the European Commission set out key initiatives - open a new tab. for managing climate risks and building a climate-resilient Europe to protect people and prosperity.
The policy framework for boosting climate resilience
Governance
- Greater clarity on responsibilities and on which risks are managed at the EU level and which at the Member State
level.
- EU-level processes to better embed climate risk into planning and policymaking.
- Member States should ensure adequate capacity to address risks.
Structural policies
- Member States should reflect climate risks in spatial planning decisions and measures to protect critical
infrastructure.
- Stronger EU solidarity mechanisms to better incentivise the anticipation of risks.
Tools
- Improved access to data, models and scenarios needed for informed decision-making, from early warning systems to
long-term planning.
- Continued support for capacity building and for the provision of guidelines, and better use of existing tools.
Financial resilience
- Ensure climate resilience is at the heart of all EU spending decisions.
- Public and private financial institutions and industry should improve the mobilisation of private investment.
- Member States should consider resilience in their public procurement.
This work builds on the implementation of the 2021 EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change - open a new tab., which is well under way. Member States are including climate resilience in their draft national energy and climate plans - open a new tab. and have received Commission recommendations on improving their adaptation measures in accordance with the European Climate Law - open a new tab.. The dedicated EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change - open a new tab. aims to guide at least 150 regions and communities in understanding climate risks, developing pathways for preparation and implementing innovative solutions by 2030.
In its special report on climate adaptation in the EU - open a new tab., published in October, the European Court of Auditors concluded that there is a risk that the EU’s adaptation policy might not keep pace with climate change. The report made several recommendations: to improve the way Member States report on climate adaptation; to make better use of the EU’s adaptation-related tools; and to future-proof EU funding for climate adaptation. The Commission has accepted or partially accepted these recommendations. One of the priorities of the new Commission will be to propose a European climate adaptation plan to aid Member States and the EU in significantly strengthening climate resilience.
The second annual EU Day for the Victims of the Global Climate Crisis was marked on 15 July, honouring those affected and promoting action to mitigate the impact of future disasters. Many Member States are still recovering from catastrophic weather events. In August, the Commission proposed - open a new tab. over €1 billion in aid from the EU Solidarity Fund - open a new tab. for Greece, France, Italy, Austria and Slovenia to deal with the impact of floods in 2023. In response to the devastating floods and wildfires that hit central, eastern and southern Europe in autumn 2024, the Commission proposed to facilitate the use of Cohesion Funds - open a new tab. to help Member States affected by climate-related disasters. In November, an aid package of €116 million - open a new tab. from the EU Solidarity Fund was approved to support Germany and Italy following devastating natural disasters in the spring.
Climate change and health
Nearly 500 researchers, decision-makers and funding organisations from around the globe gathered at a high-level conference in Brussels - open a new tab., Belgium, in February to reflect on the research needs in the area of climate change and health. Participants discussed the most important challenges and priorities in this area and started preparations for an ambitious, forward-looking and inclusive European research and innovation agenda with a global focus.
The effects of climate change have led to the increased presence in Europe of mosquitoes that can transmit serious diseases. In response, the EU authorised - open a new tab. the first-ever vaccine against the Chikungunya virus. A report - open a new tab. by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control confirmed the presence in 13 European countries of the Aedes albopictus mosquito, which transmits Chikungunya. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, recently established in Cyprus, can also contribute to the spread of Chikungunya, along with Zika, dengue and yellow fever. The authorisation was unanimously endorsed by the Member States following a stringent assessment - open a new tab. by the European Medicines Agency. To further curb the risk of mosquito-borne diseases spreading in Europe, the Commission announced €500 000 in funding from the EU4Health programme for a pilot project to help eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquito in Cyprus.
Check out the European Climate and Health Observatory - open a new tab. to find out how Europe is building resilience against health risks associated with climate change.
The European Green Deal - open a new tab. is delivering the change needed to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The legislation to achieve, and even exceed, the EU’s midterm target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 is now in place.
With the adoption of the European Climate Law - open a new tab. and European Green Deal legislation - open a new tab., the EU now has legally binding climate targets covering all key sectors of the economy. This puts the EU on a path to reach its 2030 targets in a fair, cost-effective and competitive way. To ensure a level playing field for European companies, a new mechanism - open a new tab. ensures that an equivalent carbon price is paid for imported goods in targeted sectors. In addition, in those regions most affected, there will be support for workers to develop new skills and social support for vulnerable citizens and businesses.
As the next step on the path towards climate neutrality, the Commission presented - open a new tab. its assessment for a 2040 climate target for the EU. This recommends a 90 % net greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, in line with recent scientific advice and the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement - open a new tab.. The assessment will inform the new Commission in making its legislative proposal for the 2040 target under the European Climate Law.
As well as deep and sustained emissions reductions, achieving the recommended 90 % reduction will require measures to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This means the EU will need technologies that can capture carbon dioxide or remove it directly from the atmosphere, and then store or use it. The Industrial Carbon Management Strategy - open a new tab., presented in March, identifies a set of initiatives to be taken at the EU and national levels to enable the deployment of these technologies and the necessary infrastructure to establish a single market for carbon dioxide in Europe in the decades ahead. A regulation - open a new tab. was adopted - open a new tab. in November creating the first EU-wide voluntary framework for certifying carbon removal, carbon farming and carbon storage in products across Europe. This will facilitate investment in both innovative carbon removal technologies and sustainable carbon farming solutions - open a new tab..
Helping EU industry achieve net zero
The Net-Zero Industry Act - open a new tab., which entered into force in June, creates a regulatory framework to boost the competitiveness of industry and technologies that will help the EU achieve its climate goals. It puts the EU on track to strengthen its domestic manufacturing of key clean technologies. By creating a unified and predictable business environment for the clean-technology manufacturing sector, it will increase planning and investment certainty and support the creation of quality jobs and a skilled workforce (see also Chapter 2).
In autumn, the EU began accepting applications - open a new tab. for clean-technology manufacturing projects to be designated as ‘net-zero strategic projects’ under the Net-Zero Industry Act. Approved projects will boost the EU’s clean-technology sector, enhancing competitiveness and climate action while benefiting from faster permitting, priority treatment at the national level and guidance on financing.
The launch of the European Solar Academy - open a new tab. in June will play a crucial role in equipping workers with the skills needed for the solar energy sector, which is essential for achieving the EU’s renewable energy targets. It is the first in a series of EU academies being created under the act.
The global market for net-zero technologies is set to triple by 2030, to an annual worth of around €600 billion.
Key net-zero technologies
- Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems
- Electrolysers and fuel cells
- Onshore wind and offshore renewables
- Sustainable biogas/biomethane
- Batteries and storage
- Carbon capture and storage
- Heat pumps and geothermal energy
- Grid technologies
Advancing the clean-energy transition
In response to the disruption of the global energy market and the hardship caused by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU launched the REPowerEU Plan - open a new tab. to fast-forward the clean-energy transition and rapidly reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Over the past two years, REPowerEU has helped the EU save energy, diversify its supplies, produce clean energy and smartly combine investment and reforms.
Saving energy and improving energy efficiency have helped reduce consumption. Significant progress has also been made on renewable energy. In the first half of 2024, renewables generated 50 % of electricity in the EU. Norway has replaced Russia as the EU’s main gas supplier. There has also been a significant shift towards imports of liquefied natural gas, with the United States now the EU’s leading supplier. Crucially, the EU has managed to withstand critical risks to the security of its energy supply, regain control over the energy market and prices and accelerate the transition towards climate neutrality.
- In 2024, wind surpassed gas generation for the first time to become the second-largest single source of electricity in the EU behind nuclear.
- Imports of Russian gas (pipeline and liquefied natural gas) dropped from a 45 % share of overall EU imports in 2021 to only 19 % in 2024.
- The EU achieved an 18 % reduction in gas demand between August 2022 and November 2024. This resulted in about 165 billion cubic metres of gas being saved.
- Measures at the EU and national levels have paid off, with electricity and gas prices now much lower and more stable than at the height of the energy crisis.
- Meanwhile, the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 37 % compared with 1990, while the economy has grown by 68 % in the same period.
Reform of the electricity market
Energy markets have returned to more stable conditions, with prices lower than in 2022 and 2023. With the adoption of new legislation, such as the new regulation and directive on the reform of the electricity market - open a new tab., retail prices should be more independent of short-term market prices. In the event of a future gas-price crisis, Member States can introduce measures to protect consumers and ensure access to affordable energy and essential social services. The electricity market reform also gives consumers a wider choice of contracts and clearer information before they sign. Future-proof energy markets will also stimulate investment in clean energy and facilitate lower and more stable prices, which are key to making EU industry more competitive globally.
The reform of the EU’s electricity market will:
- boost renewable energy investment;
- better protect and empower EU consumers;
- enhance the competitiveness of EU industry.
Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings
The building sector is crucial to achieving the EU’s energy and climate goals. The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive - open a new tab., which entered into force in May, will help increase the rate of renovation in the EU, particularly for the worst-performing buildings. The new legislation sets out a framework for Member States to reduce emissions and energy use in buildings, from homes to business premises and public buildings, helping to improve people’s health and quality of life and bringing down bills.
- Around 40 % of the energy consumed in the EU is used in buildings.
- Over one third of the EU’s energy-related greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings.
- Around 80 % of the energy used in EU homes is for heating, cooling and hot water.
Boosting the European hydrogen market
Decarbonising the EU gas sector and creating a hydrogen market will make a key contribution to reaching climate neutrality by 2050. New rules - open a new tab. on hydrogen and low-carbon gas adopted by the EU in May, including a European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen and a pilot mechanism - open a new tab. to help buyers and suppliers to connect, will boost the hydrogen market. New incentives for renewable hydrogen, such as the first auction under the European Hydrogen Bank - open a new tab. and the approval - open a new tab. of four Important Projects of Common European Interest - open a new tab. on hydrogen, are expected to generate more investment. The EU has committed to establishing, by 2030, at least 50 Hydrogen Valleys - open a new tab., where clean hydrogen will be produced locally and used in households, transportation and industry.
State-aid rules, such as the climate, energy and environment aid guidelines - open a new tab., are helping Member States reach the objectives of the European Green Deal. The guidelines support the roll-out of renewable energies by allowing Member States to grant public financing to companies making the necessary investment at the lowest possible cost for taxpayers and without unduly distorting competition.
Advancing the Zero-Pollution Action Plan
Pollution poses multiple risks to human, animal and ecosystem health. To progress towards its goal of zero pollution, the EU is taking measures to better monitor, report, prevent and remedy air, water and soil pollution and harm caused by chemicals.
Water
Several new measures to ensure the quality of drinking water for everyone in the EU were adopted in 2024. New standards and procedures - open a new tab. for materials and products that come into contact with drinking water aim to prevent microbial growth and reduce the risk of harmful substances leaching from materials into drinking water. A new method - open a new tab. was also adopted for measuring microplastics, and technical guidelines - open a new tab. were established for the monitoring of long-lasting chemicals.
Urban waste water is one of the main sources of water pollution, if not collected and treated in accordance with EU legislation. An agreement was reached - open a new tab. on new rules to further reduce pollution from urban sources and tackle emerging pollutants, including microplastics and micropollutants. In line with the ‘polluter pays’ principle, extended producer responsibility has been introduced. This means that polluters need to cover the costs of the treatment to remove micropollutants. New guidelines - open a new tab. were issued for authorities in Member States to ensure that reusing treated waste water for agriculture is safe.
The EU’s annual report - open a new tab. on the state of beaches and bathing areas showed that Europe’s bathing water remains safe, with more than 85 % meeting the ‘excellent’ water quality standard.
The EU adopted - open a new tab. four new pieces of legislation that will provide it with new tools to support clean and modern shipping. The rules also aim to help prevent illegal discharges and preserve marine ecosystems.
Air
A new law - open a new tab. to strengthen 2030 EU air-quality standards to better protect people’s health and the environment entered into force - open a new tab. in December. The revised rules cut the annual limit value for the main pollutant – fine particulate matter – by more than half. People suffering from health damage due to air pollution will also have the right to be compensated if EU air-quality rules are violated.
Industrial emissions
A large share of pollution in the EU stems from industrial production processes, including the emission of air pollutants, wastewater discharge and waste generation. New rules - open a new tab. will further reduce emissions of key air, water and soil pollutants by covering additional sources of emissions and streamlining the provisions for granting operating permits for the industrial installations and farms concerned. They introduce obligations and measures that will improve publicly available information on emissions and resource use by the EU’s largest industrial installations. The Innovation Centre for Industrial Transformation and Emissions - open a new tab., launched in July, aims to accelerate the development and uptake of innovative solutions for pollution control.
Soil
As part of its efforts to make Europe’s soils healthier, the EU aims to set up 100 living labs - open a new tab. and lighthouses - open a new tab. (sites for the demonstration of exemplary solutions) by 2030. Under the EU’s Mission Soil - open a new tab. initiative, the first 25 living labs, where multiple partners come together to co-create and test solutions and business models in real-life conditions, have been selected and launched. In addition, 10 Mission Soil projects are specifically developing remediation strategies, models and solutions to monitor and address pollution and the decontamination of land and water in urban, rural and coastal areas.
Chemicals
The EU has established guiding principles - open a new tab. to determine what constitute ‘essential uses’ of the most harmful chemicals for society. The aim is to achieve a faster phase-out of the uses of the most harmful substances that are non-essential, while allowing more time to phase out uses that are essential for society and for which alternatives do not yet exist.
New rules - open a new tab. that will prohibit the last intentional remaining uses of mercury started to apply across the EU in 2024. The new rules ban the use and export of dental amalgam from 1 January 2025. Member States that require more time to adapt their national healthcare systems can be given a limited and temporary derogation for the use, manufacture and import of dental amalgam (until 30 June 2026). Eventually, dental filling materials will be free from mercury, except for specific medical needs and when deemed strictly necessary by a medical practitioner.
The EU has also adopted - open a new tab. new measures to restrict certain harmful long-lasting chemicals in products such as textiles, cosmetics and packaging, to protect human health and the environment.
Revised legislation on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals entered into force - open a new tab. in December. With these new rules, the EU aims to protect workers, consumers and the environment from hazardous chemicals by better communicating the risks present throughout supply chains.
The EU continued its progress towards a circular economy in 2024, with the aim of reducing pressure on natural resources, cutting waste and creating sustainable growth and jobs. Newly adopted legislation will help to increase resource productivity and boost the long-term competitiveness and resilience of the EU economy.
78 %
of people in the EU believe the environment has a direct effect on their daily life and
health.
They consider the most effective way of tackling environmental problems to be:
17 %
promoting the circular economy by reducing waste and by reusing or recycling products;
15 %
restoring nature;
14 %
ensuring that environmental laws are respected;
14 %
ensuring that products sold on the EU market do not contribute to harming the environment.
Source: European Commission, Special Eurobarometer 550, May 2024.
Making sustainable products the norm
Products and the way we use them can have a significant impact on the environment, but thanks to new EU rules, sustainable products will gradually become the norm. This follows the entry into force of new rules - open a new tab. that will ensure that everyday household goods and industrial products last longer, use energy and resources more efficiently, are easier to repair and recycle, and include more recycled content. Shoppers will be also able to make more sustainable choices, thanks to Digital Product Passports - open a new tab. – scannable tags on products providing easy access to sustainability information. The destruction of unsold clothes and footwear will be banned under the new rules.
New EU rules to empower consumers for the green transition entered into force in March. This means that before buying a product, consumers will receive better information on its durability and reparability and on their legal guarantee rights. Companies will no longer be able to declare that products are ‘green’ if they cannot demonstrate recognised excellent environmental performance. In addition, unfair commercial practices, such as those linked to early obsolescence or to making false claims about the sustainability of a product, will be prohibited. The new rules will start to apply in September 2026.
Promoting the repair of goods contributes to sustainable consumption. New rules - open a new tab. establishing measures to increase the amount of goods repaired both within and outside of the legal guarantee entered into force in July. Manufacturers of products that are subject to reparability requirements in EU law (e.g. fridges and smartphones) will have to repair products within a reasonable time, and for a reasonable price. Within the legal guarantee, sellers will be required to offer repair, except when it is more expensive than replacement. Beyond the legal guarantee, a new set of rights and tools will be available to consumers to make repair an easy and accessible option. Consumers will also have the right to an extra year of the legal guarantee if they choose to repair the product instead of replacing it. The new rules will apply from July 2026.
Recycling not only saves energy and money but can also be a good source of critical raw materials. Reliable and unhindered access to certain raw materials is a growing concern. The Critical Raw Materials Act, which entered into force - open a new tab. in May, sets a benchmark to source at least 25 % of the EU’s annual consumption of such materials from recycling. It also includes rules to improve the sustainability and circularity of critical raw materials on the EU market.
EU residents produce on average around half a kilo of packaging waste each every day. New rules - open a new tab. adopted in December will make packaging more sustainable by reducing unnecessary packaging, limiting overpackaging and increasing the number of deposit-return schemes for plastic bottles and metal cans. Each person could save up to €100 per year if businesses pass on their savings.
Waste exports from the EU to non-EU countries have increased by 88 % since 2004, reaching 35 million tonnes in 2023. New rules to ensure the EU takes greater responsibility for its waste entered into force in May. The new regulation - open a new tab. aims to ensure that the EU does not export its waste to countries outside the EU and that it contributes to the environmentally sound management of waste.
During the New European Bauhaus Festival in April, visitors were invited to a special day dedicated to sustainable fashion, including a circular and inclusive fashion show with 16 international designers from eight countries displaying their eco-friendly creations. The event emphasised not only the aesthetic appeal of sustainable fashion but also its role in promoting a lifestyle in harmony with our environment.
Environment and nature
A midterm review of the eighth Environment Action Programme - open a new tab., which will guide European environmental policy up to 2030, confirms that the EU’s objectives under the European Green Deal are achievable, if all the planned measures are fully implemented. It also underlines the positive economic and social impact of meeting climate and environmental objectives, including in terms of well-being, health, resilience, competitiveness and ensuring the security of supply of all materials.
The EU’s groundbreaking Nature Restoration Law - open a new tab., which aims to reverse the serious decline in biodiversity and contribute to the fight against climate change, entered into force in August. It builds on the EU Biodiversity Strategy - open a new tab. and sets targets for restoring degraded ecosystems, particularly those with the most potential to capture and store carbon and to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters. The new law puts in place measures to restore at least 20 % of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030. By 2050, measures should be in place for all ecosystems in need of restoration. The Member States are expected to submit national restoration plans by mid 2026, showing how they will deliver on the targets. The Nature Restoration Law, the first of its kind in the world, will also help the EU and its Member States to meet their international biodiversity commitments under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - open a new tab..
A project to restore the River Isar, in Germany, and its floodplains through a unique collaboration between Bavarian water and nature authorities won the 2024 LIFE Award for Nature. Almost a decade after the project began, the river is once again flowing freely, and endangered species have returned.
An EU-funded project - open a new tab. is helping Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands to monitor and protect migratory waterbirds across the East Atlantic Flyway.
The Natura 2000 network of protected areas has been the backbone of the EU’s nature conservation policy for 30 years. In 2024, the Natura 2000 Awards - open a new tab. put a wide range of new initiatives in the spotlight – from the conservation and management of the black stork in Poland to the marine conservation of ‘blue forests’ in Portugal.
The provision of support to boost existing initiatives also continued in 2024, for example with the publication of a new guide - open a new tab. to designing better land-use policies. This should help all relevant stakeholders to better familiarise themselves with legislation on land use, land-use change and forestry, and with good practice. The sector is essential for preserving nature and tackling climate change by removing carbon on a large scale. Ahead of the International Day of Forests in March, the Commission hosted a conference - open a new tab. to boost efforts to plant 3 billion trees - open a new tab. by 2030 for more resilience against climate and environmental threats.
Environmental crime is a growing concern, causing significant damage to the environment, citizens’ health and the economy within and beyond the EU. Revised legislation - open a new tab., which entered into force in May, will address the most serious breaches of EU environmental obligations. Several new offence categories have been introduced, such as unlawful ship recycling and water abstraction. The new rules will strengthen the enforcement chain and support environmental defenders and practitioners in tackling environmental crime. Member States have two years to adapt their national legislation.
Environmental crime is:
- the fourth-largest organised crime activity in the world
- growing at a rate of 5–7 % per year
- with an annual global loss of €80–230 billion
Source: United Nations Environment Programme, The Rise of Environmental Crime – A growing threat to natural resources, peace, development and security - open a new tab., 2016.
Supporting Europe’s farmers
Over the past several years, Europe’s farmers have been exposed to an exceptional range of challenges and uncertainties – from a pandemic and a steep increase in energy prices aggravated by Russia’s unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine to increasingly frequent extreme weather events. In 2024, the EU continued to take action to support them and also to help them tackle challenges that have arisen since the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy - open a new tab..
In March, the Commission proposed changes to certain provisions of the Common Agricultural Policy, while maintaining its role in supporting the transition of European agriculture to sustainable farming. This was accompanied by further measures to reduce the administrative burden on farmers as part of a wider policy to rationalise reporting obligations, launched in 2023. EU farmers’ views on administrative burdens relating to the Common Agricultural Policy, including reporting obligations, were also sought in an online consultation that received 27 000 replies.
Support for EU farmers
- At least 50 % fewer Common Agricultural Policy-related on-farm visits by national administrations.
- €98 billion allocated for voluntary measures benefiting the environment, climate and animal welfare.
- Farms under 10 hectares exempt from controls and penalties related to conditionality requirements - open a new tab..
Source: European Commission, ‘EU actions to address farmers’ concerns - open a new tab.’, 2024.
In addition, the Commission proposed measures to improve farmers’ remuneration. The EU Agri-Food Chain Observatory - open a new tab. was launched in July to look at production costs, margins and trading practices. The aim is to reinforce transparency and trust between stakeholders by making data public and exchanging information. Options for new rules to correct imbalances in the food supply chain were also presented. The Commission also presented a report - open a new tab. in April on the implementation of the Directive on Unfair Trading Practices - open a new tab. in the food supply chain, which will feed into an ongoing evaluation of the legislation. In December, it proposed new measures - open a new tab. to strengthen farmers’ position in the agri-food supply chain and improve cross-border enforcement against unfair trading practices.
During 2024, €233 million in support was granted to farmers affected by natural disasters and extreme weather events in Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Austria, Poland, Romania and Slovenia. Support measures were also introduced to address the market disturbance in the wine sector in Portugal, along with the negative effect on the poultry and egg markets caused by avian influenza in Italy.
The Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture - open a new tab. was launched in January, bringing together 29 key agri-food stakeholders to develop a shared vision for the future of the EU’s farming and food system.
In September, the final report on the dialogue was presented. Titled A shared prospect for farming and food in Europe - open a new tab., the report presents an assessment of challenges and opportunities, accompanied by 14 recommendations. These suggestions will guide the work of the Commission when shaping its Vision for Agriculture and Food, to be delivered in the first 100 days of the new political mandate (see Chapter 0).
The new Regulation on Geographical Indications for Wine, Spirit Drinks and Agricultural Products - open a new tab. entered into force in May. It creates a single set of protection rules and procedures for all agricultural geographical indications. It also strengthens their protection, notably online and in internet domain names.
In 2024, the EU negotiated the removal of trade barriers to Irish and French beef exports to South Korea, giving producers from these Member States access to one of the biggest import markets for beef in the world.
Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
Climate change, biodiversity loss, and ocean and freshwater pollution threaten the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture resources. With the 2023 fisheries and oceans package - open a new tab., the Commission put forward a set of measures to tackle these challenges through the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy - open a new tab.. A consultation - open a new tab. to evaluate the Common Fisheries Policy Regulation was launched, with a report expected by the end of 2025.
Control rules are fundamental to implementing the Common Fisheries Policy, particularly to monitor the use of fishing quotas and to ensure that unwanted catches are not being illegally discarded at sea. New rules - open a new tab. to modernise the way fishing activities are controlled, for both EU and non-EU vessels fishing in EU waters, entered into force in January. They will help prevent overfishing, create a more effective and harmonised fisheries control system and ensure a level playing field between different sea basins and fleets. The new rules will also alleviate the administrative burden through digitalisation, and will promote the use of technologies.
In December, EU fisheries ministers reached an agreement - open a new tab. on fishing opportunities for 2025. The agreement includes 12 sustainability measures - open a new tab. that, if applied, will provide considerable extra fishing days.
The Commission also responded to calls to reduce the administrative burden relating to establishing and operating aquaculture sites in the EU. It did so by providing support to Member States in implementing the strategic guidelines to make aquaculture more sustainable and competitive.
Towards a sustainable ocean
The EU reaffirmed its commitment to international ocean governance by announcing 40 commitments for action for 2024 - PDF file, open a new tab. at the Our Ocean conference - open a new tab. in Greece, supported by €3.5 billion in EU funds. The commitments focus on areas including sustainable - open a new tab. fisheries, marine protected areas, ocean and climate change, sustainable blue economies and marine pollution.
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is one of the most serious threats to the sustainable exploitation of living aquatic resources, jeopardising both global efforts to promote better ocean governance and the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy. In May, the EU issued a ‘yellow card - open a new tab.’ to Senegal – a notification of the need to step up action in the fight against such fishing. The global value of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is estimated at €10–20 billion per year. Between 11 million and 26 million tonnes of fish are caught illegally every year, corresponding to at least 15 % of world catches.
Important decisions - open a new tab., including on the management of floating devices used to catch tuna and other fish, will contribute to making fisheries in the Indian Ocean more sustainable. Based on a proposal from the EU, a resolution gradually implementing the full biodegradability of drifting fish aggregating devices by 2030 was adopted during the 28th annual meeting of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission in May. The regulatory framework for such devices was also improved to increase traceability and compliance.
The EU is ready to ratify the High Seas Treaty - open a new tab., also known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction. It will do so jointly with several Member States before the third UN Ocean Conference in June 2025. The treaty aims to protect the ocean, promote equity and fairness, tackle environmental degradation, fight climate change and prevent biodiversity loss in the high seas. It will enter into force once it has been ratified by 60 parties. The EU is actively preparing for its implementation and is supporting other countries in their efforts to ratify and implement the treaty.
Transport accounts for almost a quarter of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. Under the European Green Deal, the EU aims to reduce transport-related emissions by 90 % by 2050. The Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy - open a new tab. provides a roadmap for achieving these ambitious emission reductions. Over the last five years, considerable progress has been made in making the EU’s transport sector more sustainable.
Over 90 % of the 82 initiatives under the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy have either been completed or are ongoing.
Over €21.2 billion has been allocated to 630 transport infrastructure projects across the EU under the 2021–2027 Connecting Europe Facility.
Nearly €100 billion has been allocated to transport by Member States under their national recovery plans.
€4 billion has been invested in transport research and innovation.
The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation - open a new tab. promotes the use of sustainable aviation fuels and will bring a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of more than 60 % by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. It entered into force in January 2024.
A voluntary labelling scheme - open a new tab. for calculating flight emissions created under the regulation will allow passengers to make informed choices when comparing different flight options.
The FuelEU Maritime Regulation - open a new tab. will help reduce emissions from shipping by promoting the use of renewable, low-carbon fuels and clean-energy technologies for ships. It applies from January 2025.
The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation - open a new tab. will boost the number of electric recharging and hydrogen refuelling stations. It started to apply in April.
Forty-two new projects were selected during the year to receive over €424 million in EU funding - open a new tab. to deploy alternative fuels infrastructure (installing electric recharging points and hydrogen refuelling stations; electrifying ground operations in airports).
Reducing
transport
emissions
Revised carbon dioxide emission-reduction targets for heavy-duty vehicles (lorries, buses and coaches), which entered into force in July, will reduce emissions by 45 % by 2030, 65 % by 2035 and 90 % by 2040.
New rules - open a new tab. setting emission limits for road vehicles and requirements for battery durability will regulate particles coming from brakes and tyres for all vehicles, reducing emissions and microplastics.
Transport by inland waterway is energy efficient and almost congestion-free. A new proposal - open a new tab. to improve traffic management on the EU’s rivers and canals will boost the efficiency and reliability of inland navigation and contribute to the EU’s aim of shifting more cargo to Europe’s rivers and canals.
The EU has also made significant strides in reducing transport emissions by adopting the European Declaration on Cycling, which officially recognises cycling as a sustainable, accessible and affordable mode of transport.
Members of the Alliance for Zero-Emission Aviation - open a new tab. presented an ambitious objective of operating between 36 % and 68 % of intra-EU flights using hydrogen- and electricity-powered aircraft by 2050. This could reduce carbon dioxide emissions on these routes by between 12 % and 31 %. The EU launched the alliance as a voluntary initiative to enable private and public partners to work together to make novel forms of sustainable transportation a reality for travellers in Europe.
A sustainable and resilient transport network
To improve transport connections across Europe, the EU is investing a record €7 billion - open a new tab. in sustainable, safe and smart transport infrastructure. More than 80 % of the funding will support projects that deliver on the EU’s climate objectives, improving and modernising the EU network of railways, inland waterways and maritime routes. Funding will go to major projects to improve cross-border rail connections. This includes the Rail Baltica project, which will connect the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - open a new tab., and the Fehmarnbelt tunnel project - open a new tab., which will link Germany with Denmark.
Faster rail speeds are on the way, thanks to new rules - open a new tab. setting ambitious targets for European transport infrastructure. By 2040, passenger railway lines on the EU’s main passenger rail connections must support trains travelling at speeds of 160 kilometres per hour or faster.
Making our roads safer
Road safety in the EU has improved significantly over recent decades, with deaths on EU roads falling from around 50 000 twenty years ago to around 20 400 today. However, further action - open a new tab. is needed at the EU, national and local levels to achieve the EU’s aim of zero fatalities by 2050.
New rules - open a new tab. to improve the general safety of vehicles have come into effect for all motor vehicles sold in the EU. The rules mandate a range of new technologies and advanced driver assistance systems in all new vehicles. Since they first started to apply to new models of vehicles in 2022, the measures have been instrumental in improving protection for passengers, pedestrians and cyclists across the EU. By 2038, the rules are expected to have saved over 25 000 lives and to have prevented at least 140 000 serious injuries.
Cooperative, connected and automated mobility - open a new tab. is essential for making Europe’s transport greener, safer and more competitive. The EU, in cooperation with private partners, is investing €500 million through Horizon Europe to advance research into this technology.
The EU’s work with key international partners to confront the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution continued in 2024. Three major multilateral negotiations took place – the UN Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan, the UN Biodiversity Conference in Colombia and the UN Desertification Conference in Saudi Arabia.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference
The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) took place from 11 to 24 November in Baku, Azerbaijan. The summit brought parties together to accelerate action towards delivering on the Paris Agreement goal of limiting the global average temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
The conference focused on securing the significant financial investment needed to reduce emissions and protect vulnerable populations. The EU played a vital role - open a new tab. in reaching an agreement on a new climate finance goal to support climate action by developing countries.
The parties set an ambitious new collective quantified goal of scaling up all sources of climate finance to $1.3 trillion annually by 2035. Within this broader target, developed countries committed to take the lead on mobilising at least $300 billion per year by 2035. The goal also successfully broadened the global contributor base, with more countries being encouraged to contribute, reflecting their growing emissions and economic weight. It also emphasised the transformative role for multilateral banks in scaling up climate action.
In addition, the EU played an important role in finalising the Paris Agreement rulebook for carbon markets. The agreement, which was nine years in the making, will operationalise international carbon markets - open a new tab. and ensure a robust framework for transparency, accountability and greater environmental integrity. Another important achievement was the successful extension of the enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender, which emphasises the importance of gender-responsive climate action among parties.
During COP29, the EU published its first-ever biennial transparency report, ahead of the end-of-year deadline. This is a significant milestone in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, marking the beginning of a new era of accountability and collaboration in the global fight against climate change.
The United Nations Biodiversity Conference
The 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali, Colombia, in October, demonstrated encouraging momentum for the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework - open a new tab. to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Dubbed the ‘COP of the people’, several important decisions were taken - open a new tab., including an agreement to expand the role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in saving biodiversity and a groundbreaking agreement on how to share the benefits of digital genetic information. The EU unveiled a package of new initiatives worth almost €160 million to support partner countries and safeguard biodiversity globally, demonstrating a clear commitment to deliver on global financing goals to protect nature.
The United Nations Desertification Conference
At the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the EU worked closely with international partners to deliver on global commitments to tackle desertification, land degradation and drought. The first World Drought Atlas, developed by the Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the convention, was presented at the conference. The atlas aims to illustrate all dimensions of drought and its increasing global risks. As well as setting out the challenges, it also offers responses to enable policymakers to take action to strengthen drought resilience.
Major drought events with examples of affected systems (2022–2024)
In 2022, ecosystems, agriculture, hydropower and water supply were affected in the western United States. In central Asia, agriculture and water supply were disrupted, while in East Asia, agriculture, inland navigation, industry and manufacturing were affected. In the same year, agriculture was also disrupted in South-East Asia.
Between 2022 and 2023, inland navigation, hydropower, agriculture, water supply, ecosystems and health were affected in Europe. In West Africa, there were problems with agriculture and food security, while in East Africa, agriculture, food security and the displacement of people were major issues. In the extratropical Andes and the La Plata basin, there were water shortages, disruptions to inland navigation and impacts on agriculture.
Between 2023 and 2024, agriculture and water supply were affected in Central America and northern South America. The Brazilian Amazon basin experienced impacts on ecosystems, inland navigation and hydropower. By 2024, the Mediterranean region facedwater scarcity and agricultural challenges, while agriculture, food security, hydropower and ecosystems were affected in southern Africa and the Zambezi basin. In Afghanistan, there were disruptions to agriculture and water supply.