AUTHORS: Eloïse Bodin – Thorfinn Stainforth

The following analysis looks at the problem areas identified in the latest State of the Environment Report and assesses how well the Green Deal’s policy proposals address the targets and objectives deemed unlikely to be met by 2020.

In its latest State of the Environment Report, the European Environment Agency (EEA) warns that the European Union is not on track to meet most of its 2020 and 2030 objectives and targets specified in the 7th Environmental Action Programme (EAP).

The Communication on the European Green Deal, published by the European Commission on 11 December 2019, outlines a strategy for Europe to become “the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050”.

The following analysis by the Institute for European Environmental Policy looks at the problem areas identified by EEA and assesses how well the Green Deal’s policy proposals address the environmental objectives deemed unlikely to be met by 2020.

This early on, it is difficult to assess the level of ambition, but there are some areas where the Green Deal’s roadmap has the potential to deliver an adequate response, including on waste management and energy efficiency.

On some others, like enforcement of biodiversity legislation and sustainable use of the seas, we have found the document to lack adequate focus and action. Among notable gaps, there is also no mention of addressing noise pollution, described by EEA as a major environmental health problem in Europe.