The European Union remains broadly on schedule to meet its 2030 climate goals, according to a new European Environment Agency report, which notes a continued drop in greenhouse gas emissions but also highlights slowing progress in key sectors and declining carbon sinks.
The European Union is largely on course to reach its 2030 target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 55%, according to the latest European Environment Agency (EEA) “Trends and Projections” report, released on 6 November 2025. EU emissions fell by an estimated 2.5% in 2024, placing Member States collectively on track for a 54% cut compared with 1990 levels, provided existing and planned policies are fully implemented. The EEA’s assessment aligns with earlier analyses on energy transition published by The European Times on EU climate adaptation.
The new report, published alongside the European Commission’s State of the Energy Union package, shows that EU net greenhouse gas emissions in 2024 were already 37% below 1990 levels — and more than 39% lower when excluding international aviation and maritime transport. The most substantial reductions again came from the energy supply sector, driven by the rapid decline of coal and oil and the expansion of renewable energy sources.
Strong progress in energy, slower movement elsewhere
While the energy transition is firmly underway, progress in other sectors remains uneven. Agriculture, buildings and waste recorded only limited year-on-year emission cuts in 2024, and emissions slightly increased in industry and both domestic and international transport.
One of the most concerning developments, the EEA notes, is the decline in electric vehicle sales in 2024. This slowdown risks delaying the EU’s transport decarbonisation pathway, especially as road transport remains one of the bloc’s most emissions-intensive sectors.
The report also highlights a persistent negative trend in Europe’s natural carbon sinks. Forests and soils — essential for absorbing carbon dioxide — continue to face degradation pressures, reducing their ability to offset emissions. Strengthening these sinks, the EEA warns, will be crucial to reaching long-term climate neutrality goals.
Renewable energy expansion must accelerate
Although Europe has significantly increased its renewable energy share over the past three decades, the EEA stresses that the pace must more than double to meet the EU’s 42.5% renewable energy target by 2030. A similar acceleration is required for energy efficiency: annual reductions in final energy consumption must also be at least twice as high as recent averages.
According to the EEA, technologies such as heat pumps and electric vehicles remain essential for reducing emissions and cutting energy demand. However, their effective deployment requires full implementation of EU legislation and stronger investment in supporting infrastructure.
Foundation in place, but risks ahead
The report notes that recent years have brought rapid progress, with stronger policy frameworks and technological advances. Yet it also underscores the scale of the remaining challenge. Ensuring Member States deliver on their National Energy and Climate Plans, strengthening carbon sinks, and reversing stagnation in key sectors will determine whether the EU crosses the 2030 finish line.
Every tonne of emissions avoided, the report emphasises, reduces future risks and costs. Each new renewable installation, building renovation or electric vehicle contributes to a more resilient and energy-independent Europe — a message reinforced throughout the new EEA assessment, which the Agency summarised in its latest public briefing.
