European Environment Agency

24/07/2026

🔥Spain has declared a national emergency after wildfires forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 people from the Community of Madrid, with a further 1,500 residents evacuated in neighbouring Ávila.

Behind these numbers are families leaving their homes with little notice, uncertain when they will return.

Events like these raise a critical question: who is most exposed when wildfires reach populated areas?

EEA analysis combining satellite-derived burnt area data (EFFIS, 2019–2023) with Eurostat population data shows that exposure is not evenly distributed. Across Europe, approximately 270 000 people live in areas burnt at least once in that period, with exposure concentrated in southern Europe.

In Spain, people over 65 are over-represented among those living in burnt areas, making up 28.4% of the exposed population compared with 19.7% of the population overall. People not in employment are also disproportionately represented.

🔥 As wildfire risk grows with a changing climate, understanding who is most affected is essential for adaptation and emergency planning.
Explore the full analysis on the European Climate and Health Observatory: https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/observatory/publications-data/analysis-data/exposure-to-burnt-areas

24/07/2026

24/07/2026

Frank Wugt Larsen, Biodiversity Knowledge and Networks Expert at the European Environment Agency, answers some of the questions people ask most about biodiversity.

What exactly is biodiversity? Why is it important for our daily lives? Is biodiversity really declining? And what gives us hope for the future?

The challenges are significant, but the science also shows that nature can recover when the right actions are taken.

To learn more, explore our topic page on biodiversity:
https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/topics/in-depth/biodiversity

23/07/2026

Which are the most water stressed countries in Europe?

Cyprus and Malta faced the most severe water scarcity conditions of any EU Member State in 2023, with seasonal water exploitation levels exceeding 40% 💧
The EEA's water exploitation index plus (WEI+) shows water scarcity affected 28% of EU territory and 32% of the EU population during at least one season that year.
Beyond Cyprus and Malta, Greece, Romania, Portugal, Italy and Spain experienced significant scarcity during spring and summer months. Among EEA member countries more broadly, Türkiye faced the most severe challenges.
Water scarcity conditions intensify each year between April and September in most affected countries, driven by dry weather, reduced river flows and higher water abstraction for irrigation, tourism and other seasonal activities.
While EU water abstraction fell by 14% between 2000 and 2023, this has not translated into an overall reduction in the area affected by water scarcity.
Explore the full indicator 👇https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/use-of-freshwater-resources-in-europe-1

22/07/2026

A walk in the park, time spent gardening, or simply having trees and greenery nearby can play an essential role in helping us feel better.

Green spaces provide a place to slow down, relax and recharge, helping to reduce stress and support mental well-being. They can also act as natural sound barriers, reducing noise from traffic and other urban activities.

🌳 With heatwaves becoming more frequent across Europe, green spaces play another vital role: keeping our cities cool. Trees and vegetation can help lower urban temperatures, offering welcome relief during periods of extreme heat.

Spending time in nature has been linked to improved mood, lower levels of anxiety, and better overall well-being. Green spaces also encourage physical activity and bring people together, both of which are important for mental health.

Even small increases in urban greenery can make a meaningful difference for public health and quality of life. 🌿

Find out more: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/who-benefits-from-nature-in-cities-social-inequalities-in-access-to-urban-green-and-blue-spaces-across-europe

21/07/2026

Europe’s forests are burning. Farmland is drying up. Towns are being hit by severe flooding. These impacts are becoming more frequent and more intense with the onset of climate change, and Europe is warming faster than any other continent in the world.

That's why climate mitigation and adaptation are essential for our future.

This carousel highlights some key quotes on the topic from Berckmans, EEA expert on climate risk and resilience, taken from the latest episode of our podcast, Europe's climate and environment.

Watch the full episode here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbJhUyCqi4Y

20/07/2026

When drought hits, healthy soils can make a real difference. 🌱

Rich in organic matter and teeming with life, healthy soils act as natural water reservoirs. They absorb more rainfall and release it slowly to plants during dry spells, buffering the effects of water scarcity.
Millions of organisms, from microbes to earthworms, help make this possible. Their activity builds soil structure, allowing water to soak in rather than run off the surface, and helps plant roots reach water and nutrients when conditions are driest.

Soil health also affects resilience to erosion. Protecting the fertile topsoil layer means retaining the moisture and nutrients that plants depend on, even as drought pressures increase across parts of Europe. 💧
Investing in soil health is one of the most practical ways to build long-term resilience to drought and climate extremes.

https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/topics/in-depth/soil

19/07/2026

From today, large companies across the EU can no longer destroy unsold clothes, footwear and clothing accessories.

Under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), businesses must prioritise selling, donating, repairing or refurbishing unsold items instead of discarding them.

The new rules aim to reduce waste, conserve valuable resources and cut avoidable greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the transition to a more circular and competitive European economy.

Keeping products in use for longer means fewer resources wasted and more value retained in the economy.

17/07/2026

Trees act like natural air conditioners, and they do it in two ways:

Shade: They block the sun from hitting the ground.
Active cooling: This is the cool science part. Trees "sweat" by releasing water into the air. Because it takes a massive amount of heat energy to turn liquid water into vapour, the trees absorb heat from the surrounding air to pull water molecules apart from each other and release them as vapour.

Instead of the sun's energy hitting the ground and making the day hotter, that energy gets used up turning water into vapour. As a result, the air temperature drops significantly.

16/07/2026

🟢 The EEA is hiring!

We are looking for an expert in Data Management, who will play a key role in strengthening the EEA’s data infrastructure by implementing efficient and automated dataflows, improving data consistency and quality, and enabling the integration of diverse data sources, including regulatory reporting.

The position will contribute to the development and evolution of modern data architectures and platforms, including data warehouse and lakehouse approaches, ensuring scalability, performance and interoperability across systems.

To be eligible for this position, the candidate must be a national of one of the member countries of the EEA (Member States of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Türkiye).

🔗 Find out more about the opening and how to apply: https://jobs.eea.europa.eu/jobs/expert-data-management-140

⏰ Deadline for applications - no later than 18 August 2026 at 23:59 (Copenhagen time)

Come join us in Copenhagen!