EU Environment

The Commission proposed new rules in July for the design, production and end-of-life treatment of vehicles. The aim is to improve access to resources within the EU while reducing raw material dependencies. For more info, take a look at our latest factsheet.

In one of the year’s biggest environmental wins, the Regulation on deforestation-free supply chains entered into force last June, answering European citizens’ wish to no longer drive global deforestation through their own consumption.

The Batteries Regulation entered into force in August, ensuring that batteries are more sustainable and reused in a much more effective way. It’s the first piece of EU legislation that takes a full life-cycle approach in which sourcing, manufacturing, use and recycling are addressed and enshrined in a single law.

A political agreement was reached in July between the European Council and Parliament on the Nature Restoration Law. This will require Member States to restore nature on at least 20 per cent of their land and marine areas by 2030. For more details read below.

Another agreement was reached between the Parliament and Council that will help limit polluting emissions more effectively from industrial installations, representing a huge win in the fight against the climate crisis. Watch out for more later this year.

But not quite in the way you might think, after the Parliament and Council reached a political agreement in November on waste shipments. The old idea of exporting environmental challenges to third countries is out, while the new, more responsible one, is in.

The Commission hosted a four-day conference in Vilnius in November that addressed the embattled country’s eventual economic recovery and how this can be done in the most sustainable and green way possible. Find out more about what we’re doing to help Ukraine.

December marked one year since 196 countries agreed upon the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework at the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15). The EU is now looking to accelerate progress in implementing the agreement ahead of this year’s COP16 in October.

The Spanish city kicked off the new year as the European Green Capital 2024. Hundreds of activities and events are planned throughout the year, aimed at raising awareness of the triple planetary crisis of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change.

The Commission adopted new EU-wide hygiene standards for materials and products that come into contact with drinking water, making your water better and safer in the process. Click below for more.

A political agreement was reached this week between the European Parliament and Council on the Commission’s proposal to revise the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, which will eventually lead to cleaner rivers, lakes, groundwater and seas all around Europe.

2023’s record-breaking temperatures saw severe droughts in Europe, with a new study released last year suggesting that our drought and flood risk management strategies may need to be revisited. Our colleagues at Science for Environment Policy have the story.

For starters, you can read this article from DG CLIMA, which lays out how you can adapt to soaring global temperatures, but also what cities across Europe are doing to mitigate some of the worst effects of the climate crisis, including nature-based solutions.

CINEA compiles its top ten highlights of 2023, as it showcases some of its very best award-winning projects.

As for this year, here’s a roundup of what’s in store over the next 12 months. Buckle up!

The European Chemicals Agency conference on more sustainable and safer chemicals is taking place in Helsinki. In person registration is closed, but you can still follow online below.

Europe's top circular economy conference will be joining forces with the Belgian EU Council presidency and the World Circular Economy Forum. More info below.

It would be amiss not to mention this year's flagship green event. Don't miss out by clicking below!