With an impressive development progress over the past two decades, the countries of the Europe and Central Asia region (ECA) are primed for significant economic and social growth. Climate change, however, threatens to undermine decades of development gains and put at risk efforts to eradicate poverty.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) produces annual air pollution health risk assessments at the European level. These give an objective and comparable estimate of the impacts of air pollution on the population’s health. This briefing provides an overview of the methodology followed in the assessments.

The report presents an updated overview and analysis of air quality in Europe from 2000 to 2016. It reviews the progress made towards meeting the air quality standards established in the two EU Ambient Air Quality Directives and towards the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines (AQGs).

The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has published a progress report on implementation of the Water Convention, showing that Parties have made “significant progress” towards cooperation on transboundary waters.

This publication presents a collection of examples of how the EU Framework Programme 7 and Horizon 2020 projects have re-aligned their objectives with those of the Paris Agreement and its 1.5°C/2°C goal. Each project has provided information on risks and impacts of global warming above 1.5°C/2°C and the costs and benefits of adaptation.