JRC study finds mixed progress in delivering the European Green Deal

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre has published a comprehensive study to date of progress on the EU's Green Deal which was launched five years ago. The Green Deal aims at cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, reaching climate neutrality by 2050, and at a resource-efficient economy. It builds on supporting measures across sectors covering energy, transport, circular economy, agriculture and food, ecosystems and biodiversity, water, soil and air pollution. 

The JRC study identifies 154 binding and non-binding targets that make up the Green Deal and provides a snapshot of the progress in achieving them, based on available knowledge and data, and broken down into seven thematic areas: climate ambition; clean, affordable, and secure energy; circular economy; sustainable and smart mobility; greening the common agricultural policy and the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy; preserving and protecting biodiversity; and advancing towards zero pollution for a toxic-free environment. 

The study finds that of the 154 targets, 32 are currently ‘on track’ and 64 are identified as ‘acceleration needed’, meaning that they are working but more progress is needed to meet the targets on time. 15 of the targets are found to be ‘not progressing’ or ‘regressing’, and for 43 of the targets no data are currently available.  

Significant progress towards Europe’s sustainable transformation has been delivered in many areas. For example, greenhouse gas emissions are consistently decreasing, with substantial reductions achieved in key sectors like energy and industry. Advances in recycling and sustainable production processes are driving the transition to a clean and circular economy, addressing waste and highlighting the need to reduce Europe’s reliance on finite resources. 

While the progress is promising, more action is essential to achieve the 2030 targets and beyond in some areas. For example, in the energy sector, renewables must grow faster to meet the 42.5% target and must be supported by investments in infrastructure and innovation. Expanding protected areas and restoring ecosystems will be crucial to reverse biodiversity loss. Improved data and monitoring systems are also needed to track progress, with 28% of targets lacking sufficient data today. The study identifies some areas of high concern: either where progress is not on track or where data are not available to measure progress. For example, common bird populations have been showing positive signs of recovery since 2010, but farmland bird populations continue to decline steadily.  

The study shows that we are on the right path to progress on the Green Deal. Most policies and supporting tools are in place and starting to deliver results. However, to reach the ambitious targets for 2030 and 2050, progress needs to accelerate in many areas. The JRC points out that full implementation and applying these policies through measures at Member State level is crucial to achieve the targets under the Green Deal. It is crucial to deliver system changes across all sectors and shift towards more responsible consumption and production models. 

For more information:

JRC - news

JRC report: Delivering the EU Green Deal: Progress towards targets