Europe warned to step up climate action as environment faces severe strain

September 29, 2025 (MLN): Europe has made notable strides in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and curbing air pollution, yet its environment remains in a troubling state, according to the latest report by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

The agency warned on Monday that while progress is visible, the continent must intensify efforts to safeguard its ecosystems and build resilience against global warming.

The assessment comes in the wake of an inconclusive UN climate summit, where EU member states failed to agree on a collective 2035 roadmap for further emission cuts.

Disputes have also stalled an ambitious European Commission proposal to slash emissions by 90% by 2040 compared to 1990 levels.

Since 1990, EU emissions have fallen by 37% outpacing major polluters such as the United States and China driven largely by reduced fossil fuel consumption and a doubling of renewable energy use since 2005.

However, the EEA emphasized that member states must accelerate the implementation of policies outlined in the European Green Deal.

The report highlighted severe environmental challenges, including degraded habitats, biodiversity loss and worsening water scarcity. It found that 81% of protected habitats are in poor or bad condition, 60% to 70% of soils are degraded and 62% of water bodies fail to meet good ecological standards.

The agency stressed that up to 40% of water could be conserved in agriculture, supply, and energy sectors through better management, technology and public awareness.

Climate change impacts are already mounting, with extreme weather events such as floods, wildfires, and heatwaves causing over 240,000 deaths in EU countries between 1980 and 2023.

Economic losses are rising sharply, with annual damages 2.5 times higher in 2020–2023 compared to the previous decade. In 2023 alone, flood damage in Slovenia equaled 16% of the country’s GDP.

The EEA urged urgent adaptation measures, warning that most European buildings remain ill-equipped to handle extreme heat and that nearly one-fifth of citizens cannot maintain safe indoor temperatures.

Despite rising heatwave risks, only 21 of the agency’s 38 member countries have adopted health action plans to protect vulnerable populations.

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