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Sustainable Development in the European Union – 2025

Cover of the report titled 'Sustainable development in the European Union: Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context, 2025 edition' by Eurostat. The design features shades of blue with a colorful tree graphic in the lower half.

© European Union 2025

Sustainable Development in the European Union – 2025

Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context

Publication
Citation

Hijman, Remko et al. (ed.) 2025: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. [eurostat Statistical books 2025 edition]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

Eurostat's "Sustainable Development in the European Union: Monitoring Report on Progress towards the SDGs in an EU Context" (2025 edition) offers the ninth comprehensive assessment of the EU's journey toward the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Researchers from Ecologic Institute authored the chapters on Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Climate Action (SDG 13), Life Below Water (SDG 14), Life on Land (SDG 15) and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), providing rigorous, policy-relevant evidence.

Gains in Clean Energy and Sustainable Agriculture

Under Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), the EU achieved a record 25 % share of renewables in its gross energy consumption for 2023 – up five percentage points over five years.  Despite this progress, even faster growth is needed for the EU to hit its 2030 target of 42.5 % share of renewables. The Zero Hunger (SDG 2) analysis reveals improvements in the sustainability of agricultural production in the EU. The use and risk of chemical pesticides decreased strongly, and organic farming rose to 10.5 % of the EU’s utilised agricultural area in 2022, though growth in organic farming will need to accelerate to hit the EU’s 2030 target of 25 %.

Mixed Signals on Partnerships and Water Resources

In Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) both favourable and unfavourable trends lead to a mixed picture. EU financing to developing countries has increased, but environmental taxes contribute a small and declining share of EU tax revenue, reaching a new low in 2023. For Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), the EU is moving opposite its desired direction. Trends in water quality are mixed, while pressures on fresh-water resources have increased, accompanied by a strong increase over the last decade in the EU area affected by drought. 

Noteworthy Climate, Marine and Land Trends

Climate Action (SDG 13) data shows EU greenhouse-gas emissions have decreased significantly in the EU, with 2023 emissions 36 % lower than they were in 1990. Despite this progress, the pace of decarbonisation must increase to hit the EU’s 2030 target of a 55% reduction. In Life Below Water (SDG 14), increased seawater acidity and marine eutrophication led to declines in ocean health, though positive trends were seen in sustainable fisheries. Life on Land (SDG 15) indicators highlight some improvements in the status of forest and river systems, but biodiversity indicators show declines and a lack of progress. 

By presenting these robust, policy-relevant statistics, Ecologic Institute bridges the gap between data and decision-making – showing not only where Europe has made real strides, but also where urgent action is needed to keep the 2030 Agenda within reach.

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Language
English
Credits

Editor-in-chief
Remko Hijman (Eurostat, Unit E2 – Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development)
Editors
Markus Hametner, Mariia Kostetckaia, Pooja Patki (WU Vienna); Aaron Best, Benedict Bueb, Doris Knoblauch, Nora Sophie Kögel, Ruta Landgrebe, Ulf Stein, Eike Karola Velten (Ecologic Institute); Ariane De Rocchi, Malena Gmür, Anik Kohli, Leroy Ramseier, Myriam Steinemann, Alexandra Zwankhuizen (INFRAS)
Co-editors
Arturo de la Fuente, Hendrik Doll, Kathrin Gebers, Johanna Giczi, Merja Jalava Hietanen, Klara Horakova, Ágnes Lesznyák, Christine Mayer, Friderike Oehler, Åsa Önnerfors (Eurostat, Unit E2 – Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development)

Funding
European Commission, Eurostat (Eurostat), International
Published by
Year
Dimension
352 pp.
ISBN
978-92-68-22574-5 (print)
978-92-68-22573-8 (pdf)
ISSN
2443-8472 (print)
2443-8480 (pdf)
DOI
Project
Project ID
Table of contents
Keywords
Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, indicator set, trends, 2030 Agenda
Europe
monitoring