Every part of the ocean is now threatened by climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, according to the ninth State of the Ocean report, published on 30 September by the Marine Monitoring Service of Copernicus, the EU’s Earth observation system. The findings show that ocean warming is accelerating, marine biodiversity hotspots are increasingly at risk […]
Tackling water challenges by combining expertise
Artificial intelligence-based environmental monitoring tools that strengthen water management capabilities could bring benefits to many regions. Surface water systems, such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, are under increasing pressure due to climate change, pollution and overuse. In many regions of the world, especially those with limited monitoring infrastructure, there is a lack of timely, reliable […]
Global ocean conservation treaty enters into force
Last September 19 marks a historic milestone for ocean conservation as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement reached 60 ratifications, triggering its entry into force in early 2026. This landmark agreement, the result of over a decade of international collaboration, represents a transformative step toward safeguarding marine ecosystems and addressing the urgent threats posed by climate change, pollution, and biodiversity […]
EU Commission Launches Ocean Pact to Safeguard Marine Life and Boost the Blue Economy
The ocean shapes our economies, our food systems, even the air we breathe. To better protect our ocean, the Commission has adopted a European Ocean Pact, which will help to promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of people living in coastal areas. This Ocean Pact brings together EU ocean policies under one single […]
How is the EU acting on climate change?
Today, 22 April, is International Mother Earth Day. We would therefore like to recall the work the European Union is doing to combat climate change and the commitment the Member States have agreed on for 2050. EU countries have made a legal commitment to combat climate change by moving to a climate-neutral economy with zero […]
EU regions and cities collaborate with UNEP to accelerate multilevel action on climate and environment
The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have signed a joint action plan to strengthen the capacities and boost the international cooperation of local and regional authorities within the CoR framework with sub-national governments around the world to tackle the triple global crisis. On 28 March, CoR President […]
EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement enters into force
The EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) has entered into force, following the completion of Chile’s ratification process. The ITA, which was signed in December 2023, is of key geopolitical importance. It will boost the competitiveness of businesses on both sides, while providing a shared platform for the development of our net-zero economies. This work will be further underpinned by ongoing […]
Maritime transport: environmental and sustainability challenges persist.
Europe’s maritime sector is making progress towards greater sustainability but will need to increase its efforts over the coming years to meet EU climate and environment goals aimed at reducing energy use, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions as well as better protecting biodiversity. That is according to the second edition of the European Maritime Transport Environmental […]
EU to support continued global climate action and push for ambitious finance and investment goals at COP29
At the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference on 11-22 November in Azerbaijan, the European Union will work with international partners to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement of limiting global average temperature rise to as close as possible to 1.5C. Climate change continues to be an issue which knows no borders, and increasingly harms […]