Since 2021, the LIFE Programme has invested over €435.6 million in 25 Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) and Strategic Nature Projects (SNAPs) which support EU Member States in implementing nature, environment and...
Marine mammals and other marine megafauna are subject to a variety of impacts related with human activities. Among those, the collisions with vessels (generally known as ship strikes, or vessel strikes) are a signific...
The EU aims to become climate neutral by 2050, in line with its commitment to global climate action under the Paris Agreement. This Result Pack focuses on 11 EU-funded Horizon 2020 projects that are helping to pave th...
This study aims to offer an in-depth analysis of water scarcity, availability, and usage in the face of climate change. By employing a comprehensive foresight methodology that includes an extensive literature review, ...
Meeting Europe’s environmental and sustainability goals requires transitioning industry toward a circular economy, centred on the production and use of innovative chemicals and materials that are safe, non-toxic, su...
This report provides the methodological guidelines for calculating the carbon footprint of industrial batteries (CFB-IND), providing the basis for the enforcement of requirements as in Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 202...
Still reeling from October’s catastrophic floods, Valencia is testing new practices to counter climate-change related risks. Creating a methodological framework to support decision-makers and learning from pilot pro...
This report presents the main outcomes from the Commission’s assessment of the second programmes of measures, which all Member States had to report by 31 March 2022. These programmes are an update since the first im...
The present report provides an overall picture of the status of environment and climate - air quality, emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases - (GHG), forests, soil and marine environment in Ukraine. The ana...
This report aims to convey to the Council, the new Parliament as well as the other EU institutions and stakeholders the latest evidence on the state of water, the pressures water resources are under and Member States...
The Water Resilience Experiment aims to contribute to the European Commission’s Water Resilience Strategy through the lens of design for policy and behavioural insights. The project focused on increasing cross-DG co...
This policy brief contends that a new approach to Long Term Contracts (LTCs) in European competition policy based on new facts, new realities and a revised reasoning must be urgently developed. To reach net zero as re...
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) Water Laboratory has worked with the Education for Climate Coalition to develop a role-play game on debating solutions to water quality contamination. The starting point and context for...
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) Water Laboratory has worked with the Education for Climate Coalition to develop a role-play game on debating solutions to water quality contamination. The starting point and context for...
The report provides an assessment of relevant European Research and Innovation (R&I) projects on the decarbonisation of the waterborne sector in Europe, specifically focusing on the period from 2020 to 2024. The repor...
The EU Soil Strategy for 2030 sets out a framework to ensure that soils are used sustainably by setting concrete measures to protect and restore soils. It sets a vision and objectives to achieve healthy soil by 2050, ...
The Education for Climate Coalition is a flagship initiative of the European Education Area and the Green Deal hosted by the European Commission. As a community of practice, it enriches both the Council recommendation...
Soil pollution is a significant environmental and health concern in Europe, with potential links to cancer incidence. The Exploratory Research project “Understanding the links between SOil pollution and CancEr” (S...
The relationship between natural capital and economic growth has garnered considerable attention in recent years, especially within the framework of sustainable development and European regional cohesion policies. Thi...
This report provides a guide for assessing the hydromorphological quality of natural and artificial lake water bodies in accordance with the requirement of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). First, 60 metrics are de...
Biodiversity is unequivocally declining and chemical pollution is a major driver of its loss. Ecotoxicological studies report various effects of chemicals at different levels of biological organization, mostly individ...
This study supports the European Commission in preparing its evaluation report of the Bathing Water Directive (2006/7/EC). The study draws on a literature review and consultation activities – including an online pub...
This report aims to provide an overview about the 32 case studies of seven ZeroPollution4Water Cluster projects. These seven projects have received funding under Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme in 202...
This report contains the annual summary of the wildfire season of 2024 on the basis of data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). It is published early in 2025 to provide an advance comprehensive a...
This report presents the updates and describes the Multi-Hazard and Early Warning System component (MHEWS) of the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS). GDACS is made of three major components, of whic...
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is no silver bullet but could be a nugget of gold. It is a way to ensure that strategic industries can be both decarbonised and kept in Europe. The EU should instrumentalise the techno...
The EU’s ambition is zero water pollution by 2030. In view of this, we assessed EU actions to address ship-source seawater pollution. Overall, EU rules improved, but implementation weaknesses existed and data was in...
The EU’s ambition is zero water pollution by 2030. In view of this, we assessed EU actions to address ship-source seawater pollution. Overall, EU rules improved, but implementation weaknesses existed and data was in...
The ACCTING project has demonstrated the benefits of partnerships between local governments and civil society organisations (CSOs) in addressing major societal challenges such as climate change.
Arguing for a meaningful, systematic, and non-extractive inclusion of the indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) into the structures of knowledge production and their application.
The Education for Climate Coalition is a flagship initiative of the European Education Area and the Green Deal hosted by the European Commission. As a community of practice, it enriches both the Council recommendation...
This page summaries the main points of the Opinion of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) on ethical perspectives of the Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), published in December 2024.
Madrid, Spain – The European initiative, EARTHONE: Environmental Analysis and Resilience for Transformative Human-Optimised Natural Environments, officially launched on January 1, 2025, held its kick-off meeting on ...
Binding targets for governments and an overhaul of the spatial planning process are key to Europe’s mission to restore its degraded ecosystems. The EU stresses the value of biodiversity and claims that every euro in...
As European cities face increasing threats from natural and human-made disasters, the EU-funded RETIME project is working to enhance urban resilience through innovative solutions. A newly released video illustrates th...
Undertaking climate action and implementing robust climate risk management in the defence sector has become indispensable. Climate change poses significant risks to the defence workforce, both military and civilian. I...
With urban areas contributing 75% of global CO2 emissions, achieving climate neutrality demands collaboration beyond individual city limits. Differences and challenges remain significant, but from Dresden to Istanbul,...
Undertaking climate action and implementing robust climate risk management in the defence sector has become indispensable. Climate change poses significant risks to the defence workforce, both military and civilian. I...
By exploring key research gaps and challenges in climate change and biodiversity, this report offers insights into promoting transformative change through research and innovation. Developed through an open and partici...
The decline in numbers and diversity of wild pollinating insects has significant consequences for human societies and biodiversity in general due to the role of insects in plant reproduction. To successfully address t...
This report, commissioned by the European Commission (DG CLIMA), develops and analyses novel policy options aimed at a shift to low-carbon mobility helping to decarbonise the transport sector in line with the recommen...
The principles of the just transition are equally relevant in the context of the circular economy and the transformation of carbon-intensive industries as they are to the energy transition. - Moving to a circular econ...
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are inspired and supported by nature, they are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience; such solutions bring more, and ...
This guide is designed to be a quick and practical reference for project promoters wishing to implement projects that support the environmental objectives of the European Green Deal and/or that contribute to the imple...
In this Opinion, the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) presents ethical perspectives on Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), a set of potential geoengineering techniques that could create a...
The world’s ocean, which feeds us, regulates our climate and generates much of the oxygen we breathe, is threatened by human activities. EU-funded projects are therefore working to protect marine ecosystems and cons...
The EU Biodiversity Strategy includes the target that at least 25000 km of rivers should be restored into free-flowing rivers by 2030 through the removal of primarily obsolete barriers and the restoration of floodplai...
Biodiversity and functioning ecosystems play a critical role in regulating the climate and the nutrient and hydrological cycles that are essential for maintaining clean water and sustaining food systems. They also hel...
This publication results from the collaboration between the Valencia City Council, Universitat Politècnica de València, and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. Focused on urban sustainability...
Part of the Webinar series “Unlocking Biodiversity Value in Spatial Planning – A Webinar Reflection Journey to Enhance Transformation”, the fourth webinar will be held on the 18th of November, and it is open to ...
Delivering the European Green Deal (2020) and a new approach for a Sustainable Blue Economy in the European Union (EU) (2021) requires urgent integration of climate-smart trends and new technologies in all types of pl...
Drawing upon the ambitious policy and legal framework outlined in the European Strategy for Data (2020) and the establishment of common European data spaces, this Science for Policy report explores innovative approach...
Extreme climate events such as heatwaves, drought and flooding are increasing. There is an urgent need to adapt to these climate conditions. We assessed the EU’s climate adaptation framework and how a selection of E...
The impact of climate change is most acute at Earth’s polar regions. The Arctic and Antarctica are warming rapidly, with dramatic consequences for not only the local environment, but the wider world. This CORDIS Res...
This handbook provides a complete guide to the New European Bauhaus self-assessment method, designed to promote sustainability, beauty, and inclusiveness in the built environment of Europe and beyond. The handbook com...
This study examines how Cohesion Policy can support climate adaptation, regional resilience and sustainable businesses in the EU. It identifies regional and sectoral adaptation needs, maps relevant EU policy instrumen...
This report presents refined options for an EU Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (EU PoMS), based on the work of a technical expert group comprising 26 international experts from 12 countries, with members being representa...
The European Union’s environmental policies address environmental challenges related to biodiversity loss, resource use (including water and circular economy aspects), pollution and environmental risks to health and...
This Technical Report presents the results of the annual product and service quality assessment of the Global Flood Monitoring (GFM) product of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS), which was performed o...
The Environmental Footprint (EF) methods are scientific tools and rules designed to calculate the environmental impact of products and organisations. Developed by the European Commission with the involvement of releva...
Cooperation between the EU and CELAC on research and innovation is increasingly focusing on Nature-based Solutions (NbS). The EU-CELAC Summit Declaration and the 2021-2023 Strategic Roadmap emphasise NbS as a key area...
The climate targets of the European Union (EU) are defined in relation to historical benchmarks: for instance, the European Climate Law requires net domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to be reduced by at least 55...
As climate change impacts intensify globally in both frequency and magnitude, and with scientific consensus on what is yet to come if the world fails to act, the imperative to step up our collective response has never...
This is part of the collection GDO analytical reports that is focused on the analysis of drought events affecting Europe as well as the other regions of the world. These studies build on data and information retrieved...
This assessment identifies 36 climate risks with potentially severe consequences across Europe. The risks are evaluated in the contexts of risk severity, policy horizon (lead time and decision horizon), policy readine...
In the growing market for ‘green’ products and services, the clarity and accuracy of producers’ and traders’ claims referring to environmentally friendly characteristics of products and services becomes increa...
Environmental intelligence (EI) provides the scientific and technological innovations needed to better manage and respond to climate change, resource depletion, pollution, risks to human and animal health, and biodive...
Microbial fuel cell, hydroponics, new-generation membranes, and much more. When “deep tech” turns carbon dioxide and nitrogen compounds into assets and brings us closer to the day when we drink carbon dioxide (CO2...
This document presents the input data, methodology and a preliminary assessment of the first version of the Global Forest Cover map for year 2020 at 10m spatial resolution (GFC 2020, version 1, dated 07 December 2023)...
The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is just one of many interconnected and mutually exacerbating socio‑economic crises currently challenging European and global societies. ...
In January 2021, the EU introduced a new own resource based on non-recycled plastic packaging waste generated by member states. In 2023, it amounted to €7.2 billion, 4.0 % of the EU’s total revenue. We assessed th...
Over 83,000 goods and services have been awarded the EU Ecolabel and are available on the EU market. It is a reliable label that identifies goods and services with a reduced environmental impact.
This report offers a detailed analysis of the European Investment Bank Group’s greenhouse gas emissions from its head office operations in Luxembourg for 2023. It includes a comparative performance review against 20...
The handbook is primarily aimed at national experts engaged in the production of European forest accounts. This edition reflects the latest European legal requirements. The handbook provides a framework and practical ...
These proceedings are the outcome of the 61st ESReDA seminar “Technological Distruptions Triggered by Natural Events: Identification, Characterization, and Management” that took place at Politecnico di Torino, Ita...
Environmental observations, for example from satellites, ground-based systems or citizen science campaigns, provide data and insights into our changing Earth system. This knowledge is the basis for evidence-based deci...