Europe's environment: Seventh pan-European environmental assessment report presented

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europeand the United Nations Environment Programme have published an assessment of the state of the pan-European environment. The report identifies progress, challenges and setbacks in environmental protection and concludes that the lack of progress in several areas poses a threat to human and environmental health.

The assessment highlights that although renewable energy use has increased in 29 countries between 2013 and 2017, fossil fuels still account for about 78% of total final energy consumption in the region. The report also notes that marine protected areas in the region have grown by 66% and terrestrial protected areas by 22% over the past five years. However, overall biodiversity loss continues to occur. The report also warns that while 41 European countries saw a 13% decrease in premature deaths due to long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) from 2009 to 2018, air pollution remains the biggest health risk in the region.

The report was presented at the 9th Ministerial Conference of the Environment for Europe (EfE) process. State Secretary Dr. Christiane Rohleder participated in the three-day conference as head of the German delegation. From October 5 to 7, 2022, representatives from 54 countries met for the pan-European process to join national and international forces for environmental protection.

Here you can read the report.

For more information on the 9th Ministerial Conference of the "Environment for Europe" process, please visit here.