The European Environment Agency presented the 2024 Assessment Report of the 8th Environmental Action Programme (8EAP) of the European Union (EU) in February. Although the report highlights some positive aspects, it reinforces the need for greater effort to achieve the 2030 targets.
As stated by the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, “the 2024 Progress Report is a clear reminder of the urgency of accelerating policy actions on the ground; to achieve our goals, we need a change in mindset and a transformational step forward.”
The assessment shows clear progress in areas such as reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improving air quality, and promoting green finance. However, more effort is needed to reverse the trend of biodiversity and ecosystem decline and achieve systemic changes in areas such as food, energy, and mobility. To achieve this, urgent implementation of already agreed legislation, completion of pending legislative acts, and new initiatives in key areas such as energy, industry, agriculture, and mobility are required.
Urgency in Implementing Agreed Legislation
The report highlights that many of the 8EAP’s objectives depend on the effective implementation of already agreed legislation. However, many necessary measures have not yet been properly applied or are still being finalized, causing delays in achieving key targets. Among the pending legislative acts are those related to the circular economy, pollution reduction, and the sustainable mobility sector. Without their implementation, the EU risks failing to meet its climate commitments by 2030, which are essential to achieving the Paris Agreement’s goals.
Taking New Initiatives
The report reinforces the need to introduce new initiatives and adopt systemic changes across several sectors to achieve the 8EAP objectives. These sectors are crucial not only for carbon neutrality but also for making the EU economy more efficient and less dependent on external resources. The key areas include:
- Energy: The transition to clean energy and energy efficiency is central to decarbonizing the economy. Accelerating the implementation of renewable energy sources (such as solar and wind), along with innovations in energy storage and decarbonization of the energy sector, is crucial. Additionally, reducing dependence on fossil fuels must be accompanied by policies that ensure a just transition, protecting workers in polluting energy sectors.
- Industry: The industrial sector plays a fundamental role in GHG emissions, making it essential to promote cleaner production processes and circularity. The digital and technological transformation of industry, combined with resource efficiency and waste reduction, will allow the EU’s industry to become more sustainable. The introduction of clean technologies and the promotion of green innovation in industry can significantly contribute to meeting climate targets.
- Agriculture: This sector has a major impact on methane emissions and other environmentally harmful substances, as well as on biodiversity and natural ecosystems. Therefore, a shift toward more sustainable agricultural practices and the promotion of regenerative agriculture is necessary. Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, promoting climate-resilient crops, and improving water management are some of the necessary measures.
- Mobility: The transport sector is one of the largest CO2 emitters, particularly due to internal combustion vehicles. The transition to electric mobility, the promotion of public transport use, and the encouragement of active mobility, such as cycling and walking, are key actions to reduce emissions in the sector. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the importance of greener transport infrastructure, with a focus on the use of renewable energy and the modernization of transport systems.
Complementary Measures for Effective Implementation of Legislation
To ensure that climate and environmental legislation is correctly implemented, the report highlights the need to intensify complementary measures.
One of the priority areas is technical and financial support, which is essential for cities and Member States to successfully implement climate policies. This support may include subsidies for green technologies and energy efficiency projects, as well as incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises that adopt more sustainable practices.
In this context, Cidades Pelo Clima organized, on February 20, 2025, a plenary session dedicated to Climate Action Financing. The event, led by João Fachada, a Master in Economics from Nova School of Business and Economics, explored funding sources and tools, enabling municipalities to identify the best strategies to implement climate projects and promoting a rich discussion on sustainable investment opportunities.
Another crucial area is monitoring and evaluation. To ensure that climate targets are being met, a robust system for monitoring policy implementation is essential. This requires accurate and up-to-date data to assess the effectiveness of measures and make adjustments as needed.
An innovative tool supporting this need is MEM+ – Municipal Emissions Monitoring, developed by IN+ – Center for Innovation, Technology, and Development Policies and made available by Cidades Pelo Clima. MEM+ is an advanced platform for monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, allowing real-time data collection, analysis, and visualization. Through this platform, municipalities and companies can identify major emission sources, track trends, and develop effective strategies to reduce their environmental impact. MEM+ is, therefore, an essential instrument for cities to fulfill their climate commitments and move towards carbon neutrality.
The report also emphasizes the urgency of greater involvement of stakeholders, including local governments, businesses, NGOs, and citizens. Civic engagement is essential to drive cultural and behavioral change toward sustainability.
In this regard, Cidades Pelo Clima promoted, on March 10, 2025, the plenary session Public Participation in Climate Action. The event addressed ways to effectively involve citizens in the path toward climate neutrality, discussing the role of public participation in the European Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030” and the impact of digital technologies on urban governance. Additionally, examples of international and national best practices were presented, highlighting challenges and strategies for improving public engagement in climate policies.
The effective implementation of climate legislation, therefore, requires a coordinated effort between financing, rigorous monitoring, and active participation of society. With initiatives such as these, Cidades Pelo Clima reinforces the collective commitment to a more sustainable future.
