European Environment Agency

European Environment Agency This is the page of the European Environment Agency (EEA), an agency of the European Union. Currently, the EEA has 33 member countries.
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Our task is to provide sound, independent information on the environment. We are a major information source for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy, and also the general public.

⚡ Europe's AI boom is accelerating fast — and the environmental costs are becoming harder to ignore.A new EEA briefing, ...
06/05/2026

⚡ Europe's AI boom is accelerating fast — and the environmental costs are becoming harder to ignore.

A new EEA briefing, Artificial intelligence and sustainable consumption in Europe, maps the growing pressure that AI infrastructure is placing on the continent's resources.

Data centres are at the centre of this story. Driven largely by AI, electricity demand from the sector is projected to nearly double by 2030. Europe already accounts for 15% of global data centre electricity consumption — and the concentration of facilities around major urban hubs is placing increasing strain on local grids.

But the footprint extends beyond energy:
🌊 Water: AI data centres could increase annual water use for cooling and electricity generation to around 1,068 billion litres by 2028 — an elevenfold increase on 2024 estimates.
⛏️ Minerals: AI infrastructure depends on a narrow set of critical raw materials — including gallium, germanium and tantalum — with extraction carrying significant environmental and social costs.
The briefing points to a governance gap: current EU rules focus mainly on AI training, leaving inference-related energy use — now 80–90% of AI computing — only partially regulated.

Read about the briefings 👉https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/news/europe-must-steer-ai-and-digitalisation-to-support-its-green-transition

AI is disruptive by design. The question is whether Europe steers that disruption toward its green transition — or lets ...
05/05/2026

AI is disruptive by design. The question is whether Europe steers that disruption toward its green transition — or lets it work against it. 🌱

Two new EEA briefings published today examine the environmental opportunities and risks of AI and digitalisation. The potential is significant: smarter energy systems, stronger environmental monitoring, more resource-efficient value chains, and AI-powered tools that can shift consumption toward lower-carbon choices. 💡

But the briefings are equally clear on the risks. Data centres are already driving rising demand for energy, water and critical raw materials. Efficiency gains alone are unlikely to deliver absolute reductions in environmental pressure. And without clear policy direction, digitalisation risks reinforcing the resource-intensive models Europe is trying to move away from. ⚠️

The twin transition is a strategic choice, not a passive process. How Europe governs AI and digitalisation will determine whether they serve the green transition — or undermine it. 🇪🇺
🔗Read more about our two briefings: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/news/europe-must-steer-ai-and-digitalisation-to-support-its-green-transition

🌍🔥 Europe is heating up — but not evenly.This map from The European State of the Climate 2025 report shows how the rate ...
03/05/2026

🌍🔥 Europe is heating up — but not evenly.

This map from The European State of the Climate 2025 report shows how the rate of warming varies across the continent, with eastern and northern Europe warming faster than many other regions over the past three decades.

Europe is already warming twice as fast as the global average, and at least 95% of the continent experienced above-average annual temperatures in 2025.

In one striking example, a record three-week heatwave affected sub-Arctic Fennoscandia, where temperatures near to and within the Arctic Circle rose above 30°C.

is reshaping Europe in real time from the Mediterranean to the far north📍What changes are you seeing where you live?

Copernicus ECMWF
World Meteorological Organization

02/05/2026

World days and environmental policies do matter.

🐟Since 2017 when the UN designated 2 May as World Tuna Day to highlight the importance of responsible tuna fishing, significant progress has been made:

In 2017, only 75% of the tuna catch came from healthy stocks free of overfishing. Today, it is estimated that 99% of commercial tuna catches come from stocks that are scientifically assessed to be biologically sustainable.

However, overfishing, bycatch and habitat degradation are still key drivers of declining marine biodiversity. Around 40% of fish and shellfish populations in Europe’s seas are still not in good status or fished sustainably.

👉Our job, in other words, is not done yet. Dive deeper into the topic with this EEA briefing listing several actions that can help ensure the sustainability of Europe’s fisheries: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/news/opportunities-to-secure-marine-ecosystems

01/05/2026

📡🌍At the European Environment Agency, our work to monitor and protect the environment takes many forms. And one of them is Copernicus In-Situ.

Copernicus In-Situ brings together a global network of monitoring systems on land, in the air and at sea, alongside geospatial data from many regional, national, and international providers.

These observations are crucial for Copernicus, the Earth Observation component of the EU Space Programme, as they enable the generation, calibration and validation of Copernicus satellite data, products and services.

Our role in this? We are tasked with the cross-cutting coordination of . A feat that includes mapping in-situ requirements and existing data gaps, and engaging with in-situ data providers to address them.

▶️ Watch the video below to get the gist of Copernicus In-Situ and check out the Copernicus In-Situ website to know more: https://insitu.copernicus.eu/

How clean is our air in Europe? 🌬️ According to the latest annual update out today, most air quality monitoring stations...
30/04/2026

How clean is our air in Europe? 🌬️

According to the latest annual update out today, most air quality monitoring stations in Europe achieve current EU legal standards for key air pollutants which is good news.

But levels of pollutants like particulate matter, benzo(a)pyrene and especially ground-level ozone remain a significant problem.

In up to 20% of monitoring stations air pollution is still above current EU air quality standards, especially for smaller particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns (µm) or less (PM10) , ground level ozone (O3) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP).

Also, the new EU air quality standards applicable from 2030 will require EU member states to maintain and increase measures to address air pollution. Across the majority of Europe air pollution levels also remain above the stricter WHO guideline levels set to protect human health.

💡Find out more: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/news/progress-in-improving-europes-air-quality-but-further-action-needed-to-address-2030-limits-ground-level-ozone

29/04/2026

🔊 Noise pollution is often overlooked 🔊 and considered just an annoyance of everyday life.

🩺 But the long-term impacts of noise on our health and environment are widespread and significant contributing to premature deaths, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and mental health issues.

📑 On this International Noise Awareness Day, help build awareness by sharing the insights from our recent report on the impacts of noise pollution in Europe: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/news/europeans-exposed-to-harmful-noise-pollution-levels

🌡️ Record wildfire extent. 🌊 Record sea surface temperatures. ❄️ Snow cover 31% below average. The European State of the...
29/04/2026

🌡️ Record wildfire extent.
🌊 Record sea surface temperatures.
❄️ Snow cover 31% below average.

The European State of the Climate 2025 report, published today by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (Copernicus ECMWF) and the World Meteorological Organization, documents a year of climate extremes across the continent — from the Arctic to the Mediterranean.

Key findings from 2025 include a record 1 million hectares burned by wildfires, glacier mass loss across all European regions, and river flows below average for 11 out of 12 months.

At least 95% of Europe saw above-average annual temperatures, and 86% of European seas experienced at least strong marine heatwaves.

These findings reinforce what EEA data and assessments have consistently shown: climate impacts in Europe are intensifying across ecosystems, water systems and biodiversity.

The EEA European Climate Risk Assessment identified many of these risks as already critical — and the trajectory is not improving.

Understanding this evidence is the foundation for effective policy. Explore EEA's climate indicators, risk assessments and adaptation knowledge via Climate-ADAPT:

🔗 https://climate.copernicus.eu/esotc/2025
🔗 https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en

🧪🌍We are an expert to work in the field of chemicals, environment, and human health.This role is placed within our Env...
28/04/2026

🧪🌍We are an expert to work in the field of chemicals, environment, and human health.

This role is placed within our Environment and Health unit covering a range of topics including air quality, air pollution emissions inventories, environmental noise, chemicals and One Health, with a focus on the health effects (burden of disease) related to exposure to environmental pollution and other environmental risk factors.

We are looking for candidates with:
✔ Demonstrated experience in assessing the impacts of chemicals on the environment and human health
✔ Demonstrated experience working in the science-policy interface and engaging with stakeholders, particularly with communicating scientific information to policymakers and diverse audiences
✔ Sound knowledge and demonstrated experience working with EU legislation and governance in the area of chemicals and human health
✔ Excellent project management skills and demonstrated experience of successful project delivery, including time management, task management, quality control and organisational skills
✔ Excellent written and spoken English (C1 or above)

The position is based in Copenhagen and you need to be a national of one of the member countries of the EEA (Member States of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Türkiye), to be able to apply.

Apply by 3 June 2026 👉 https://jobs.eea.europa.eu/jobs/expert-chemicals-environment-and-health-134

27/04/2026

A picture is worth a thousand words💌

This saying is certainly true of the winning photos in our EEA photo competition.

In this video, the 2025 winners talk about the environmental stories behind their and how they hope it inspires change in others.

📸The 2026 EEA photo competition opens May 18! Find out more on this year's theme 'Resilient by Nature' 🍃 here:
https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/photo-competitions/resilient_by_nature

🌆 We are an Expert in Urban Sustainability.This role sits within our Sustainability Transitions unit, with a focus on ...
27/04/2026

🌆 We are an Expert in Urban Sustainability.

This role sits within our Sustainability Transitions unit, with a focus on delivering knowledge on how cities and regions progress towards socially fair sustainability. Work will span resource efficiency, climate resilience, biodiversity in urban environments, and equitable access to ecosystem services such as green space, drinking water, and sanitation.

Day-to-day, you will be developing knowledge on progress towards socially-fair sustainability at local, urban, and regional scales, and the supporting role of EU policies. You will maintain relations with urban networks and Eionet partners, and collaborate across the EEA to integrate urban and social dimensions into thematic areas including climate adaptation, nature, mobility, and energy.

We are looking for candidates with:
✔ Proven experience in urban sustainability, urban biodiversity, or related fields at local, regional, national, or European level
✔ Demonstrated expertise in analysing enabling conditions, governance, and policies for sustainability transitions or nature-based solutions
✔ Strong analytical skills, including proficiency in digital tools for data-driven environmental and socioeconomic analysis
✔ Excellent written and spoken English (C1 or above)

Based in Copenhagen. Contract Agent (FG IV), initial contract of four years, renewable.
You need to be a national of one of the member countries of the EEA (Member States of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Türkiye), to be able to apply.

Apply by 2 June 2026 👉 https://jobs.eea.europa.eu/jobs/expert-urban-sustainability-133

Amid the emerging global energy crisis what progress has the EU made in its ? We sit down with EEA energy and environme...
24/04/2026

Amid the emerging global energy crisis what progress has the EU made in its ?

We sit down with EEA energy and environment expert, Mihai Tomescu in our latest 🎙️ 🍃 EEA 'climate and environment' podcast episode - out now - to discuss the state of play and how the shift to green energy sources like wind and solar can help boost energy security and resilience in Europe.

Key takeaways:

🟢 Roll-out of renewables and boosting energy efficiency has been very successful so far, with greenhouse gas emissions falling by more than a quarter from 2005 to 2020, at the same time renewables more than doubled as an energy source and final energy consumption went down as well.

🟢 There is a very clear synergy between the environmental agenda on climate mitigation and economic and security considerations.

🟢 We should use the current crisis as opportunity to improve our resilience and boost efforts in terms of reducing dependency on fossil fuel imports by increasing renewables uptake, energy efficiency, supporting a just energy transition for citizens and vulnerable consumers, and more electrification.

▶️ You can catch the full episode wherever you download your podcasts or click below...

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Bm3ulMSUhvo

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lFH3AbgLS8mrTn449fM3K

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/europes-climate-and-environment/id1842852275

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Europes-Climate-Environment-audio-Podcast/dp/B0GBXSHDJ7

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