European report warns: Environmental degradation threatens European way of life

A recent report by the European Environment Agency warns that environmental degradation is putting the future of the European way of life at risk, emphasizing that member states have not adapted to climate extremes fast enough to face increasing levels of risk, including Germany, where a forest fire destroyed large areas last summer.

The agency stated in the report, which was translated by "Ghadan Risk Management (GFRMIRAQ)" The continent has made "significant progress" in reducing greenhouse gas pollution, but noted that wildlife extinction and climate degradation are leading to the collapse of ecosystems that form the foundation of Europe's economy.

This is the seventh edition of the report, which the IAEA has published every five years since 1995, with the following findings:

• More than 80% of protected habitats are in poor or degraded condition, with continued unsustainable production and consumption patterns causing the loss of wildlife.
• The European Environment Agency has estimated that the EU's ability to absorb carbon has declined by around 30% over the last decade as a result of overharvesting, forest fires, and pests.
• Emissions from the transportation and food sector have not changed significantly since 2005, despite progress in other sectors.
• Member states have not adapted to extreme weather as quickly as the risks have increased.
• Around a third of Europeans are under severe water stress, and this is expected to worsen as climate change continues.

Lena Jela-Mononen, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, said: "We are struggling to meet our 2030 goals in many areas. "This situation threatens the future prosperity, competitiveness and quality of life of Europeans.

The warning comes as environmental rules are slipping as hard-right parties that deny the science of climate change rise across the continent. The US is pressuring EU leaders to buy US fossil fuels and abandon pollution standards affecting imported goods.

In a speech to the United Nations, US President Donald Trump claimed without evidence that many European countries are on "the brink of destruction because of the green energy agenda," blaming the EU's 37% drop in emissions since 1990 for job losses and factory closures.

Europe's top three environmental policy officials - Teresa Ribera, Jessica Roswall, and Wopke Hoekstra - emphasized the need for continued climate action and cautioned against seeing these measures as a financial burden.

Hoekstra, the EU's climate commissioner, said: "The cost of inaction is enormous, and climate change is a direct threat to our competitiveness. "Staying on track is essential to protect our economy.

Ribera, who is responsible for competition and green transition, added: "Postponing or delaying climate goals will only increase costs, deepen social gaps, and weaken our resilience."

Poor progress on the 2030 goals

The report paints a comprehensive picture of the state of the environment in Europe, although some of the most recent data dates back to 2021 due to the lengthy verification process.

The results showed that only two of the 22 policy targets set for 2030 - gaseous emissions and the impact of ozone-destroying substances - were "largely on track," while nine were "significantly off track," and the rest showed a mixed trend.

Protected areas increased slightly, reaching 26.1% of land and 12.3% of water bodies in 2022, while progress towards a circular economy was weak, with demand for recycled materials only increasing from 10.7% in 2010 to 11.8% in 2023.

Tobias Long, one of the report's authors, said: "The real red flag is our consumption. "Our consumption levels are very, very, very high.