A vast majority of the European Environment Agency鈥檚 (EEA) 39 member and cooperating countries are putting in action United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those focused on climate action, water and sanitation, and affordable and clean energy, according to a pan-European assessment, published today, of how the SDGs are being implemented.
罢丑别听听explores action areas and mechanisms on how environment-related SDGs are being put in place via the EEA鈥檚 European Environment Information and Observation Network (). The cross-country analysis and added country profiles aim to improve understanding into the focus and prioritisation of environmental action countries are taking across Europe.
Key Findings:听
- Approximately 90 % of EEA member and cooperating countries have some form of focused action related to SDG 6 (water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 15 (life on land).
- Due to national circumstances, priorities and context, there is some overall convergence and divergence as to where countries put their SDG efforts. For some SDGs, there is convergence in the types of action within the individual SDGs adopted in Eionet countries, like for example on SDG 7, the type of action includes energy efficiency in 77 % of EEA and cooperating countries. Other SDGs show a greater divergence and even innovative approaches in actions by countries, which is likely to reflect the influence of different contexts (e.g. geography and climate influencing water availability) and policy priorities on countries鈥� choices as to what to focus on.
- Multi-level and inclusive governance is commonly used for SDG action in Eionet countries; inter-ministerial bodies, advisory councils, commissions or working groups to coordinate SDG action have been established in almost 75 % of Eionet countries; and dialogue with stakeholders and their participation in prioritisation, decision-making and SDG action is evident in over 80 % of countries.听听
Background
The EEA analysis is based on a mapping and analysis of EEA member and cooperating countries; environmental SDG action and procedures and it contributes to the EU鈥檚 SDG monitoring report. Agreed by听world听leaders at the United Nations in 2015,听the听听includes 17听听(SDGs) which address global challenges,听including poverty, inequality, environmental degradation and climate change. The EU was instrumental in shaping the 2030 Agenda听and,听together with its听Member听States,听has the ambition to play a leading role in听the global action towards听achieving听the SDGs.听The EU has adopted a听听to integrating the SDGs in听both听internal and external policies, and has developed听听and a听听to support听SDG action.
As described in the EEA鈥檚 鈥樚�(SOER 2020)鈥� report, 11 SDGs have been characterized with important environmental dimensions.
eea.europa.eu
