The European Green Deal is the European Union’s flagship policy for achieving a climate-neutral, resource-efficient, and socially inclusive economy by mid-century. On 30 January 2025, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) – the European Commission’s scientific service – released its most comprehensive review so far of how well the EU is progressing toward these objectives.
The Green Deal’s overarching goals are threefold:
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Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030
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Achieve climate neutrality by 2050
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Advance a resource-efficient economy
To reach them, the Green Deal integrates measures across multiple domains: energy, transport, circular economy, agriculture and food systems, biodiversity, and the reduction of air, water, and soil pollution. The JRC report offers a panoramic analysis, tracking each objective and its current status.
The Scope of the Study
The study maps out 154 individual targets — both legally binding and voluntary — that together define the Green Deal. These are grouped into seven thematic areas for clarity:
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Climate ambition
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Clean, affordable, and secure energy
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Circular economy
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Sustainable and smart mobility
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Greening the Common Agricultural Policy and implementing the “Farm to Fork” strategy
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Preserving biodiversity
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Moving towards zero pollution
The report also builds on insights from the Climate Action Progress Report, enabling a cross-sector view of environmental, climate, and resource policies.
Current Progress
The JRC analysis paints a mixed picture:
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32 targets are currently “on track”
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64 targets require acceleration to be achieved on time
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15 targets are “not progressing” or regressing
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43 targets lack sufficient data
Some areas are showing steady progress. Greenhouse gas emissions have been consistently decreasing, especially in energy and industry. Circular economy measures — such as increased recycling rates and sustainable manufacturing — are helping to reduce Europe’s dependency on finite resources.
Challenges and Gaps
The report warns that, despite promising developments, certain sectors require urgent action.
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Energy: Renewable energy must grow at a faster pace to reach the 42.5% target by 2030, supported by stronger infrastructure and innovation investment.
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Biodiversity: Expanding protected natural areas and restoring degraded ecosystems are critical for halting biodiversity loss.
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Data: Around 28% of the targets lack adequate monitoring, limiting the ability to track and evaluate progress.
Mixed Signals for 2050
Progress is uneven because many Green Deal laws have only recently been adopted — such as the Nature Restoration Law — and have not yet been fully implemented. Some initiatives will take years before measurable results emerge.
One telling example: common bird populations are recovering since 2010, but farmland bird numbers continue to decline steadily.
The Need for Acceleration
The JRC concludes that the EU is moving in the right direction but must speed up to meet its ambitious goals. Most of the policy tools are in place, but achieving systemic change will require:
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Full implementation at Member State level
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Structural changes across all sectors
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A shift towards sustainable consumption and production
Ultimately, the Green Deal’s success will determine whether Europe can achieve inclusive prosperity while staying within the planet’s ecological limits.
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