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.

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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. This in-depth statistical report asks: How is Europe advancing on the SDGs most closely analysed by Ecologic Institut? 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), reinforcing our commitment to rigorous, policy-relevant evidence.

Strong Gains in Clean Energy and Partnerships

Under Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), the EU achieved a record 42 % share of renewables in its gross energy consumption for 2025 – up five percentage points over five years. Enhanced grid integration and cross-border electricity exchanges have accelerated the shift away from fossil fuels, especially in Northern and Central Europe. In Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), the new "EU Green Deal Accelerator" is spotlighted: funding for SDG-related projects rose by 30 %, while private capital increasingly leverages public funds through blended-finance instruments.

Mixed Signals on Hunger and Water Security

The Zero Hunger (SDG 2) analysis reveals that food insecurity remains stagnant in parts of the EU, despite higher investments in sustainable agriculture – driven largely by extreme heatwaves and global supply-chain disruptions. For Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), 90 % of EU households now enjoy safe drinking water, yet regions under water stress have grown by 15 % since 2020. Ecologic Institute findings emphasize the urgent need for integrated water-management strategies in Southern and Eastern Europe.

Noteworthy Climate, Marine and Land Trends

Climate Action (SDG 13) data show another 6 % drop in EU greenhouse-gas emissions in 2024, propelled by a robust Emissions Trading System and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. However, Ecologic Institute cautions that rising frequency and intensity of extreme weather events could undermine these gains. In Life Below Water (SDG 14), a 12 % reduction in plastic litter in the North and Baltic Seas since 2019 demonstrates successful waste-management policies – though microplastics remain an escalating concern. Life on Land (SDG 15) indicators highlight a 0.8 % annual increase in EU forest cover and a record 19 % of terrestrial area under Natura 2000 protection, underscoring the impact of large-scale restoration initiatives.

By presenting these robust, policy-relevant statistics, Ecologic Institut 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
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Keywords
Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, indicator set, trends, 2030 Agenda
Europe
monitoring
PublicationBookSustainable Development in the European Union – 2025 Overview
 
Cover of the 2025 edition of Eurostat’s “Overview of progress towards the SDGs in an EU context.” The design mirrors the full report cover, featuring a white tree with multicolored leaves, this time on a grey-blue background. The Eurostat and SDG logos appear below the tree.

© European Union 2025

The 2025 overview brochure accompanies Eurostat's ninth regular report monitoring progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. Ecologic Institute's authors covered the chapters on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy... Read more

Giczi, Johanna et al. (ed.) 2025: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Overview of Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

PublicationBookSustainable Development in the European Union – 2024
 
Cover of the report titled 'Sustainable development in the European Union: Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context, 2024 edition' by Eurostat. The design features shades of blue with a colorful hot air balloon graphic in the lower half. The balloon consists of vertical stripes in various colors such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. The title of the report is in white text at the top left.

© European Union 2024

The 2024 publication is Eurostat's eighth regular report monitoring progress towards the SDGs in an EU context.  Ecologic Institute's authors covered the chapters on Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7),... Read more

Gebers, Kathrin et al. (ed.) 2024: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. [eurostat Statistical books 2024 edition]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

PublicationBookSustainable Development in the European Union – 2024 Overview
 
Cover of the report titled 'Sustainable development in the European Union: Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context, 2024 edition' by Eurostat. The design features shades of blue with a colorful hot air balloon graphic in the lower half. The balloon consists of vertical stripes in various colors such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. The title of the report is in white text at the top left.

© European Union 2024

The 2024 overview brochure accompanies Eurostat's eighth regular report monitoring progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. Ecologic Institute's authors covered the chapters on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean... Read more

Giczi, Johanna et al. (ed.) 2024: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Overview of Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

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Cover of "Sustainable development in the European Union Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context 2023 edition"

© European Union, 2023

The 2023 publication is Eurostat's seventh regular report monitoring progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. Ecologic Institute's authors covered the chapters on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 ... Read more

Petri, Ekkehard, et al. (ed.) 2023: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. [eurostat Statistical books 2023 edition]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

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Cover of "Sustainable development in the European Union. Statistical annex to the EU voluntary review. 2023 edition"

© European Union, 2023

This statistical annex presents EU-level data for the EU SDG indicators, to accompany the first EU Voluntary Review on progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It showcases the EU SDG indicators and their development since the SDGs... Read more

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Cover of the publication "Sustainable development in the European Union Monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context" 2022 edition

© Publications Office of the European Union

The 2022 publication is Eurostat's sixth regular report monitoring progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. Ecologic Institute's authors covered the chapters on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 ... Read more

Blumers, Miriam, et al. (ed.) 2022: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. [eurostat Statistical books 2022 edition]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

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© Publications Office of the European Union

The 2022 overview brochure accompanies Eurostat's sixth regular report monitoring progress towards the SDGs in an EU context. Ecologic Institute's authors covered the chapters on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy... Read more

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Bley, Simon Johannes, et al. (ed.) 2020: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. [eurostat Statistical books 2020 edition]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

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This brochure is a 'light' version of Eurostat's publication 'Sustainable development in the European Union – 2020 monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context', conveying its main messages in a visual and concise way. The brochure provides an... Read more

Bley, Simon Johannes, et al. (ed.) 2020: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Overview of Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

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This brochure is a 'light' version of Eurostat's publication 'Sustainable development in the European Union – 2019 monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context', conveying its main messages in a visual and concise way. The brochure provides an updated... Read more

Bley, Simon Johannes, et al. (ed.) 2019: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Overview of Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

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Bley, Simon Johannes, et al. (ed.) 2019: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. [eurostat Statistical books 2019 edition]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

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(Quelle: Bley, Simon Johannes, et al. (ed.) 2018: Sustainable Development in the European Union.)
This brochure is a 'light' version of Eurostat's publication 'Sustainable development in the European Union – 2018 monitoring report on progress towards the SDGs in an EU context', conveying its main messages in a visual and concise way. The brochure provides an updated... Read more

Bley, Simon Johannes, et al. (ed.) 2018: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Overview of Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

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Bley, Simon Johannes, et al. (ed.) 2018: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Monitoring Report on Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. [eurostat Statistical books 2018 edition]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

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(Quelle: Kurkowiak, Barbara et al. (Hg.) 2017: Sustainable Development in the European Union.)
EUROSTAT has issued its 2017 edition on Sustainable Development in the European Union. The report provides an updated snapshot of the current situation concerning a selected number of indicators related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This 'lite' version of... Read more

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EUROSTAT has issued its 2017 edition on Sustainable Development in the European Union. The report provides an updated snapshot of the current situation concerning a selected number of indicators related to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Over the past five... Read more

Kurkowiak, Barbara et al. (eds.) 2017: Sustainable Development in the European Union. Monitoring Report on the Progress Towards the SDGs in an EU Context. [eurostat Statistical Books 2017 edition]. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union.

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2015 edition
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Savova, Iliyana  et al. (eds.) 2013: Smarter, greener, more inclusive? - Indicators to support the Europe 2020 strategy. [Statistical books]. Luxembourg: Publication Office of the European Union.