EU nations face challenges meeting their 2025 targets for waste reduction, recycling and carbon emissions, with only a few countries on track to comply.
Marianne Gros and Giovanna Coi report for POLITICO.
In short:
- EU nations must implement separate textile waste collection, but only 11 have mandatory systems in place, contributing to clothing waste issues in countries like Romania.
- Recycling targets for municipal waste and electronics appear out of reach, with only a handful of countries nearing or meeting goals.
- While most carmakers seem on track to reduce CO2 emissions by 15% by 2025, many nations lag in biodiversity funding and reducing plastic bottle waste.
Why this matters:
Missing environmental goals delays progress on climate action and risks worsening pollution and biodiversity loss. Effective waste management and CO2 reduction are critical for meeting broader 2050 carbon neutrality plans.
