Article 1

This Decision sets out a general action programme in the field of the environment for the period up to 31 December 2030 (the ‘8th Environment Action programme’ or ‘8th EAP’). It lays down the priority objectives of the 8th EAP and identifies the enabling conditions necessary to attain those priority objectives. It establishes a monitoring framework to measure the progress of the Union and its Member States towards the attainment of the priority objectives of the 8th EAP and a governance mechanism to ensure attainment of those priority objectives. The 8th EAP aims to accelerate the green transition to a climate-neutral, sustainable, non-toxic, resource-efficient, renewable energy-based, resilient and competitive circular economy in a just, equitable and inclusive way, and to protect, restore and improve the state of the environment by, inter alia, halting and reversing biodiversity loss. It supports and strengthens an integrated policy and implementation approach, building upon the European Green Deal. The 8th EAP forms the basis for achieving the environmental and climate objectives defined under the UN 2030 Agenda and its SDGs as well as for those pursued by multilateral environmental and climate agreements. The monitoring framework of the 8th EAP shall contribute to the Union’s efforts to measure progress towards sustainability, well-being and resilience. The 8th EAP shall be based on the precautionary principle, the principles of preventive action and of rectification of pollution at source and the polluter pays principle.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-07 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.