The European Union says its partially on track to achieve its climate, environment and sustainability objectives, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA) report.
In a publication on Thursday, February 20, 2025, the EEA said that more decisive measures were needed to boost a circular economy, reverse the declining trend in biodiversity and reduce the EU’s consumption footprint.
“The EU is not yet on track to meet the many targets of the so-called 8th Environment Action Programme (8EAP), with limited progress overall, compared to the last report from 2023.”
EEA Executive director, Leena Ylä-Mononen, said that good progress had been made in reducing air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and boosting green finance.
“But decisive action is needed to put the EU on track elsewhere.
“This means bolder implementation of existing legislation, additional measures where needed and ensuring there is sufficient financing to deliver our climate, environment and sustainability objectives,’’ she said in a statement.
Four 2030 targets were deemed to be “totally ‘off track’’ including greenhouse gas emissions from land use, land-use change and forestry, doubling circular material use.
“It will ensure 25 per cent of farm fields are organically farmed, and significantly decreasing the EU’s consumption footprint,” EEA said.
Reducing energy consumption and boosting consumption of renewable energy were also off track.
The 8EAP sets out the EU’s long-term vision to 2050 of living well and within planetary boundaries and includes priority objectives for 2030 and the conditions needed to achieve these.