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Environmental Statement 2025

Framework

We are proud to present the European Commission’s Environmental Statement, a requirement of its Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), a comprehensive overview of our commitment to reducing our environmental impact and encouraging environmental sustainability and responsibility.

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Stephen Quest portrait

The European Green Deal compels Member States to cut emissions significantly and highlights the need for sustainable food supply chains and biodiversity preservation. The 2022 European Commission Communication on Greening outlines how the institution aims to achieve these goals and become climate neutral 20 years ahead of the target date for Member States. The Commission's primary goal is to reduce its equivalent CO2 emissions by 60% from 2005 to 2030 (38% compared to 2019) through a wide range of measures.

Stephen QUEST, Director General for Human Resources and Security
Testimonies from site managers , open in this tab,
Infographic showing a reduction in carbon footprint from 2019 to 2030, with a 31% decrease achieved by 2024 and a 38% reduction target by 2030.
The image is an infographic titled “Decreasing Carbon Footprint 2030” It visually represents progress in reducing CO₂ emissions between 2019 and 2030.
At the bottom left, the year “2019” appears over a cloud graphic, next to a photo of a large EU institutional building with EU flags. From this point, a large green upward arrow curves diagonally toward the top center of the image, ending at the year “2030,” symbolizing progress toward a long-term target.
Two blue circular callouts indicate emission reduction milestones:
On the right side, near the year “2024,” a bubble states “CO₂e Reduction 31%,” marking the achieved reduction by 2024. On the left side, near the upper part of the arrow, another bubble states “CO₂e Reduction 38%,” representing the 2030 reduction target. The background includes stylized wind turbines and soft blue and green circular gradients, reinforcing a renewable energy and sustainability theme. A dotted line visually connects 2024 to the upward trajectory toward 2030. The overall color scheme uses green and blue tones to convey environmental action and progress.
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Highlights

Greening the Commission Progress Review

On 16/12/2025, the College adopted a first review report on the progress the Commission has made in achieving its commitment of becoming a climate-neutral organisation by 2030. The report concludes that the institution has significantly reduced its emissions since 2019 and is on track to reach its 2030 target. The implementation of the action plan is also well under way, but more efforts are needed.

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Conclusions

The Commission aims to become climate neutral by 2030, by reducing emissions by 60% in 2030 compared to 2005 (equivalent to 38% compared to 2019, the reference year for measuring progress), and compensating for remaining emissions. Recent results show good progress with a reduction of 31% in 2024 compared to 2019.

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Environmental results 2019-2024

- 36% MWh / person
Buildings’ energy consumption
- 44% MWh / person
Non-renewable energy
- 39% tonnes CO2 / person
CO2 emissions (buildings)
- 48% gCO2 / km by manufacturer
CO2 emissions (service vehicles)
- 41% m3 / person
Water use
- 77% sheets / person / day
Office paper consumption
- 48% tonnes / person
Non-hazardous waste
- 71% tonnes / person
Residual waste

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EMAS scope - areas and staff numbers, open in this tab,
The system developed initially in Brussels with a first registration covering eight buildings in 2005. Additional buildings were added yearly, and other sites joined, with virtually full reporting of the eight main sites established in 2014.
Mobility, open in this tab,
A core component of the Commission's 2030 emissions reduction target is to reduce staff missions emissions by 50% from 2019 to 2024. To deliver this, 50 of 51 services pledged to reduce emissions. 16 services met or exceeded the 2019 -24 reduction target while further 13 services achieved between a 30% and 50% reduction.
Preserving and restoring nature and biodiversity, open in this tab,
JRC Geel is the most sparsely populated site, followed by JRCs Karlsruhe, Ispra and Petten. Each of these sites offers several hundred square meters of land per person, although not necessarily all accessible. Brussels, Luxembourg and Seville are all located within the city and therefore have less space.
Awareness

Staff participation - setting a good example

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