Environmental statement 2023.
Date: 2024-10-22
Institutions: European Environment Agency
Subjects: EU environmental policy, European Environment Agency, activity report, environmental auditing, environmental protection

European Environment Agency
Environmental statement 2023

EEA Report 10/2024

European Environment Agency
Kongens Nytorv 6
1050 Copenhagen K
Denmark

Tel.: +45 33 36 71 00
Web: eea.europa.eu
Enquiries: eea.europa.eu/enquiries

Legal notice
The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the official opinions of the European Commission or other institutions of the 
European Union. Neither the European Environment Agency nor any person or company acting on behalf of the Agency is responsible for 
the use that may be made of the information contained in this report. 

Brexit notice
EEA products, websites and services may refer to research carried out prior to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Research and data 
relating to the UK will generally be explained by using terminology such as: ‘EU-27 and the UK’ or ‘EEA-32 and the UK’. Exceptions to this 
approach will be clarified in the context of their use.

Copyright notice
© European Environment Agency, 2024
This publication is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence (https://creativecommons.
org/licenses/by/4.0). This means that it may be re-used without prior permission, free of charge, for commercial or non-commercial 
purposes, provided that the EEA is acknowledged as the original source of the material and that the original meaning or message of the 
content is not distorted. For any use or reproduction of elements that are not owned by the European Environment Agency, permission 
may need to be sought directly from the respective rightsholders.

More information on the European Union is available on https://european-union.europa.eu/index_en.

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2024

ISBN 978-92-9480-679-6
ISSN 1977-8449
doi:10.2800/7636500

Cover design: © EEA
Cover photo: © Jan Podworny, REDISCOVER Nature/EEA
Layout: EEA

This environmental statement provides information to the general public and other 
interested parties on the environmental performance and activities of the European 
Environment Agency (EEA). It is published on the EEA’s website. The EEA was 
first validated under the EMAS scheme in 2005 (1). This latest edition of the EEA’s 
environmental statement contains updated data for the year 2023.

REG.NO.DK-000244

(1)  Bureau Veritas is the verifier of the EEA's annual environmental statement and is registered under the Danish Accreditation Fund, DANAK, DK-6002.

3

Environmental statement 2023Contents

Key messages 

1 

Introduction 

1.1  Mission and context 

2  Environmental management system 

2.1  Environmental policy 

2.2  Legal requirements related to the environment 

2.3  Environmental targets and the management programme 

2.4  Environmental aspects and impacts of EEA activities 

3  Environmental performance 2023 

3.1  Continually improving the EEA’s environmental performance  

3.2   Energy 

3.3  Paper 

3.4  Water 

3.5  Waste 

3.6   Carbon dioxide emissions 

4  Other relevant environmental topics 

4.1  Green procurement 

4.2  Raising environmental awareness 

6

8

8

10

10

12

12

13

14

15

18

23

26

29

32

36

36

37

4.3  Other environmental impacts not monitored in quantitative terms  38

5  Progress towards environmental performance indicators, 2023 

Annex 1  A ‘high-ambition level pathway’ towards a climate neutral EEA 

Annex 2  Environmental management programme 2024 

Annex 3  Validation statement  

Annex 4  EMAS certificate 

Abbreviations 

References 

39

42

46

49

50

51

52

4

Environmental statement 2023© Steven Mynhardt, Environment & me/EEA

Key messages

• 

• 

• 

The EEA achieved all its environmental targets for 2023, except in the 
area of water. 

The EEA’s environmental performance in 2023 showed a rebound effect 
compared to the years still influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Most of the environmental performance indicators, such as energy 
consumption and water consumption showed an increase compared to 
2022. Areas such as paper consumption, waste reduction and sorting 
continued to improve. 

The EEA′s electricity provider guarantees that an amount (100 %) of 
EEAs electricity is produced from renewable resources in Europe. Over 
the last 3 years, an increase in staff related electricity consumption 
(total and per full-time equivalent (FTE)) was observed, but it was still 
below the pre-pandemic level. The systematic use of energy efficient 
docking stations, as well as the teleworking practices of staff and the 
deployment of the newly refurbished areas of the building may have 
slightly mitigated the overall increase in staff. On the other hand, energy 
consumption linked to heating decreased, which could be associated 
with the application of EU and Danish guidance for limiting indoor 
heating, as well as the closure of the floors undergoing refurbishment. 
Despite not being accounted for directly in the EEA′s energy 
consumption, an increase was seen in the electricity consumption 
(+12%) of the EEA′s IT server infrastructure, which has been co-located 
in an external, energy efficient data centre since 2022.  

•  Paper consumption continued to decrease, with the ongoing 

digitalisation of administrative workflows and the continued fall in 
printed materials. The application of the zero-print policy for EEA 
publications continued, with no discernible negative impact on outreach 
and the visibility of EEA products. 

•  A new target for water consumption was introduced in the 2023 

environmental management programme. The target was not achieved. 
Water consumption showed continuous growth over the last 2 years, 
peaking far above the pre-pandemic level. Water use in the canteen 
accounts for 1/3 of overall consumption and may explain part of this 
increase as the consumption almost doubled in 2023. The increase in 
staff, as well as a higher occupancy of the premises with the opening of 
newly refurbished floors in Kongens Nytorv 6 (KN6) and the increased 
use of the canteen services may explain this jump. The newly renovated 
floors include green walls that require extra watering compared to the 
previous setup.  

6

Environmental statement 2023Key messages

•  Regarding waste, trends in waste generated and the rate of waste 

collected as recyclables are improving. The EEA′s separate collection 
performance increased over time with the gradual introduction of more 
waste materials collected separately (44%). 

• 

In May 2023, separate collection of several new waste fractions was 
introduced, following Danish national requirements. As part of the 
EMAS activities for 2023, a new waste sorting system was introduced 
on all floors of the EEA building, with accompanying information for 
EEA staff. The data for 2023 on separately collected waste fractions 
indicated an increase in the amounts of plastics, metals, cardboard 
and glass collected compared to 2022, indicating that this new system 
seems to be taking effect. Thanks to the donation policy, a significant 
share of old canteen porcelain and cutlery has been donated.  

•  A reduced budget for business travel and visitor meetings, alongside 
the EEA′s climate neutrality pledge and the growing use of video-
conferencing have kept 2023 greenhouse gas emissions from staff 
and visitor travel at a relatively low level. Staff related travel, as well 
as meetings on the EEA premises have, to some extent, been replaced 
by videoconferencing and blended meetings. However, maintaining 
this low level of emissions appears to be a key challenge for 
the organisation.

7

Environmental statement 20231  

Introduction

The EEA′s annual environmental statement report for 2023 conforms to requirements 
stipulated in the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Regulation (2) and 
takes into account the sectoral reference document for the public administration 
sector (3). The report contains information on the EEA′s environmental management 
system (EMS), its environmental performance in 2023, and the updated 
environmental targets and an action plan for 2024. 

The EEA publishes its annual environmental statement on the EEA website.

1.1 

Mission and context

The EEA’s mission is to support sustainable development and to help achieve 
significant and measurable improvement in Europe’s environment through the 
provision of timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policy-making 
agents and the public. 

The EEA is a decentralised agency of the European Union established by the EEA/
Eionet (4) Regulation. It was formally established in 1990 by Council Regulation No 
1210/90, which came into force in late 1993 and was amended by Council Regulation 
No 933/1999 and then again by Regulation No 1641/2003 of the European 
Parliament and the Council. In the interests of clarity and rationality, the regulation 
was codified by Regulation (EC) No 401/2009. 

The EEA’s main task is to provide sound, independent information on the 
environment. It is a major information source for those involved in developing, 
adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy and for the general 
public. The EEA’s overall mandate, established in the EEA/Eionet Regulation is:

• 

• 

to help the European Community and the EEA member countries make 
informed decisions about improving the environment, integrating environmental 
considerations into economic policies and moving towards sustainability; and 

 to coordinate the European environment information and observation network 
(Eionet).

In this context, the EEA/Eionet strategy 2021-2030, ‘Delivering data and knowledge to 
achieve Europe’s environment and climate ambitions’, aims to support the key policy 
instruments related to the EU’s policy framework until 2030: the European Green Deal 
(EGD), the Eighth Environment Action Programme (8th EAP), and the Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs) and delivers actionable knowledge across five interlinked 
thematic work areas:

(2)   Commission Regulation (EC) 2018/2026 amending Annex IV on environmental reporting to Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009.
(3)   Commission Decision (EU) 2019/61 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, sector environmental 

performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the public administration sector.

(4)  European Environment Information and Observation Network — Eionet portal (https://www.eionet.europa.eu).

8

Environmental statement 2023Introduction

•  Biodiversity and ecosystems

•  Climate change mitigation and adaptation

•  Human health and the environment

•  Circular economy and resource use

•  Sustainability trends, prospects and responses

The EEA is located centrally in Copenhagen and currently rents two buildings, 
Kongens Nytorv 6 (KN6) and three floors of Kongens Nytorv 8 (KN8), which form 
one site. The premises date back to the 19th century and are labelled a ‘D’ category 
building by the Danish Energy Agency. The number of staff is approximately 280 
including in-house consultants. 

In 2023, the EEA had completed nearly 80% of converting the individual office 
spaces in KN6 to open activity-based working space. This facilitates face-to-face 
collaboration, aligns with increased teleworking and virtual collaboration post-
Covid-19, provides greater flexibility and has allowed additional staff to be 
accommodated without an increase in office space (5). 

Environmental aspects such as water, electricity and heating consumption, and 
waste disposal have been systematically monitored and reported since 2005. Being 
situated in a condensed urban area and in a rented building with few open spaces, 
the EEA has limited potential to access natural resources and improve biodiversity on 
its premises. 

The city of Copenhagen is highly committed to climate goals and is developing a 
new climate plan for 2035 that aims to further reduce the city’s CO2 emissions and 
demonstrate how cities can tackle the global climate crisis. This 2035 plan will 
succeed the current 2025 plan. This will also improve the environmental performance 
of the EEA, which purchases the city’s energy mix for electricity and heating and 
complies with the local regulatory framework of the city of Copenhagen.

Although the EEA is located in Denmark, its activities focus on supporting its 
stakeholders at European and international levels, as well as the general public. 
This leads to a high volume of business travel and meetings across Europe and the 
organisation of meetings and conferences at the EEA’s premises with participants 
from all over Europe. During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the EEA 
temporarily stopped almost all business travel and physical meetings at the EEA′s 
premises. Business travel resumed in 2022, and continued in 2023, although 
remaining below pre-pandemic levels. 

The EEA considers itself a knowledge hub for environmental information and 
assessments, with experts covering all major environmental topics. This means 
that there is a high level of environmental awareness among staff and engagement 
levels positively contribute to improving the EEA′s environmental footprint. As an 
information and knowledge provider, the EEA develops various products, including 
environmental reports and assessments, data and maps, briefings, press materials 
and social media campaigns for its stakeholders. Since 2022, the EEA has applied a 
′zero-print policy′ for EEA products, eliminating paper consumption by the EEA from 
its printed products.

(5)  European Environment Agency Single Programming Document 2024-2026, adopted by the EEA's Management Board by written procedure on 

24 January 2024 (Single programming document 2024-2026 — European Environment Agency (europa.eu))

9

Environmental statement 20232   Environmental management system

The EEA’s environmental management system (EMS) is an integral part of the 
management plan and is designed to make its environmental responsibilities clear 
to employees. Staff members are encouraged to actively engage in projects that 
will lead to positive environmental impacts. New employees receive an introduction 
to the EEA’s EMS and several complementary activities exist to further inform staff 
about how to improve the EEA’s own environmental performance.

The EEA’s EMS is set up in accordance with the requirements of the EU 
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Regulation (EMAS IV) (6) and the EN 
ISO 14001:2015 standard. It was registered under EMAS in 2005. The management 
and procedures of the EMS are documented in the ‘EEA environmental management 
handbook’, which is an internal document, accessible on the EEA’s intranet.

Strengthened governance

In February 2023, the EEA established a Steering Committee to strengthen the 
governance for implementing the EEA’s environmental management system. This key 
decision-making and issue-resolution body consists of three members of the Senior 
management team - the EMAS top management representative and the Heads of the 
two programmes ‘Administrative Services’ and ‘Coordination, Network and Strategy’ 
— and the EMAS environmental coordinator. Under the ‘EMAS Steering committee’, 
the ‘EMAS team’ was replaced by the ‘EMAS Working group’. The ‘EMAS Working 
group’ is chaired by the EMAS environmental coordinator and consists of trained 
staff members performing internal environmental audits and supporting the EMAS 
environmental coordinator in the implementation of environmental improvement 
actions and communication activities. Several other steering committees and 
working groups under the EEA’s new governance system help ensure the coherent 
and efficient implementation of the environmental management programme in 
different areas such as building management, staff travel, ‘new ways of working’, 
visitor travel and purchase of goods and services.

A new executive Director was appointed in June 2023, and a new EMAS 
environmental coordinator in September 2023. 

2.1 

Environmental policy

The EEA’s environmental policy describes its strategic direction in terms of its 
environmental performance. It provides a framework for environmental targets 
and actions and is adopted by the Executive Director. The EEA adopted its first 
environmental policy in 2004.

Under the European Green Deal, Europe’s ambition to become the first climate-
neutral continent will need to be carried out by all sectors of the economy, as 
well as by EU bodies and institutions. The European Commission has announced 
its goal to become climate neutral as an institution by 2030 . It called on all the 

(6)  Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1505 amending Annexes I, II, III to Regulation (EU) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on 

the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS)

10

Environmental statement 2023Environmental management system

other institutions, bodies and agencies of the EU to work with it and come forward 
with similar ambitious pledges. Consequently, the Executive Director decided in 
November 2020 to raise the EEA’s climate ambitions, with the aim of it becoming a 
climate-neutral organisation and supporting other European agencies on the path to 
sustainability (see Box 2.1).

Box 2.1

The EEA′s environmental policy

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is an agency of the European Union mandated 
to help achieve significant and measurable improvement in Europe’s environment and to 
support sustainable development. We aim to provide trusted and actionable knowledge 
for informed decision-making on environment and climate priorities and solutions, in line 
with Europe’s policy ambitions.

In that role we recognise that we have a special responsibility when it comes to managing 
our own environmental performance. Like all organisations we consume natural 
resources and impact the environment through our daily operations. In order to minimise 
these adverse impacts and continually improve our performance, we have in place an 
environmental management system, which complies with the Eco-Management and Audit 
Scheme (EMAS). 

Our goal is to become climate neutral and resource efficient. In that context we are 
committed to: 

• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

• 

 continuously improving our energy and material efficiency;
 maintaining staff awareness and understanding of work-related environmental issues;
 encouraging the sharing and implementation of ideas for environmental improvement;
 making use of the Agency’s own data, experience and accumulated knowledge in 
managing environmental performance;
 influencing and inspiring other EU bodies and institutions in their environmental 
endeavours; and
 complying with all environmentally relevant legislation and regulations of our 
host country.

This environment policy covers the Agency's operations and staff, also when on missions 
and travelling to and from work. The policy also applies to all other persons working at 
the Agency's premises. 

June 2023 signed by the new Executive Director

To deliver on this ambition, the EEA engaged the consultancies Ramboll and 
CO2logic to support the development of a roadmap towards climate neutrality 
throughout 2021. The consultancies have assessed the EEA’s carbon footprint and 
proposed two different pathways towards climate neutrality: a ‘high-ambition-level 
scenario’ and a ‘medium-ambition-level scenario’. In January 2022, the Executive 
Director endorsed the ‘high-ambition level scenario’, which assumes that more than 
50% of the EEA’s greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 2030 compared to 
2019 levels (see Annex 1). Initial measures to achieve greenhouse gas emission 
cuts have been considered. With the growth of EEA staff and the need to maintain 
business continuity and quality deliverables, further deployment of specific measures 
will be prioritised and approved on an annual basis as part of the EEA’s environmental 
management activities. 

11

Environmental statement 2023Environmental management system

Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals

Improving the environmental performance of the EEA has wide-reaching co-benefits 
for our shared environment and contributes to the 2030 agenda for sustainable 
development (Table 2.1).

Table 2.1 

EMAS targets supporting the Sustainable Development Goals

To reduce electricity consumption

To reduce water consumption

To promote responsible use of paper

To promote green public procurement

To promote sustainable food and 

to combat food waste

To reduce carbon emissions

To reduce waste and to improve 

waste sorting

2.2 

Legal requirements related to the environment

The EEA’s legal framework is based on EU law and, in the absence of relevant EU law 
provisions, on Danish law. Concerning the direct environmental impacts of the EEA’s 
operations, the relevant regulations for compliance purposes are mainly those related 
to water, energy and waste management. Concerning indirect impacts, the relevant 
regulations are mainly those related to environmental information management and 
public procurement.

The relevant environmental regulations are collected in an online register and are 
annually updated for any new regulations. The status of the EEA’s compliance 
with them is reviewed annually by the EEA’s legal adviser and the responsible staff 
members who confirm that the EEA complies with its obligations. Should action 
be needed to correct or prevent non-compliance, it will be integrated into the 
Environmental Action Plan and followed through until completion.

2.3 

Environmental targets and the management programme

For each significant environmental aspect (electricity consumption, paper use, etc.), 
the environmental management programme details the source of impact, an 
action plan and annual targets. The environmental targets are monitored and 
updated annually by the EMAS environmental coordinator in collaboration with 
Heads of groups responsible for the areas concerned. The Executive Director 
adopts the environmental management programme in the annual environmental 

12

Environmental statement 2023Environmental management system

management review. The adopted programme is then published as part 
of the annual environmental statement report (see Annex 2 Environmental 
management programme 2024 ).

2.4 

Environmental aspects and impacts of EEA activities

The EEA’s activities have both direct and indirect impacts on the environment. In its 
comprehensive environmental review in 2017/2018, the EEA identified the following 
significant (7) environmental aspects, which are monitored and reviewed at least 
once a year as part of the environmental management review. 

Direct environmental aspects

Direct environmental aspects are defined as activities, products and services that 
affect the environment and over which the organisation has direct management 
control. The EEA identified the following list of significant direct environmental 
aspects:

•  Energy use for heating and electricity consumption e.g. lighting, canteen operations 

and all electrical equipment in both buildings KN6 and KN8;

•  Water consumption and wastewater disposal (canteen, cleaning, WCs/showers);

•  Paper consumption — in-house for printing and external for the printing of EEA 

publications and exhibition materials;

•  Waste generation and its separation (electronic, plastic, glass, organic, household, 

cardboard, cooking oil, office supplies, furniture and equipment);

•  Procurement of goods and services (paper, ICT equipment, furniture and stationery 

supplies, building equipment and maintenance).

The EEA does not report on land use with regard to biodiversity, as the premises 
have no urban green space, nor an accessible roof top that could be considered for 
significant improvement of its biodiversity.

Indirect environmental aspects

Indirect environmental aspects are those activities, products and services that can, to 
some degree, be influenced by the EEA but not controlled. These significant indirect 
environmental aspects were identified:

•  Emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants from staff and meeting 

participants’ travel and the EEA’s missions and meetings, as well as from hotel 
accommodation for EEA employees and meeting participants;

•  Waste recycling (electronic, glass, organic, household, cardboard, cooking oil, 

plastics, furniture and equipment);

•  Raising environmental awareness (internal and external communication).

(7)  The significance of environmental aspects was assessed against five criteria: 1. Likelihood/frequency, 2. Legal/regulation, 3. Quantity of CO2 

emissions, 4. operational costs, 5. Interest of interested parties, and 6. Resource consumption/depletion, using a scoring system whereby the total 
score is obtained for each environmental aspect by multiplying individual scores allocated for each of the above criteria.

13

Environmental statement 20233   Environmental performance 2023

The EEA routinely monitors the following environmental aspects to measure its 
environmental performance against performance indicators and quantified annual 
environmental targets (see Chapter 5):

•  electricity consumption and energy consumption for heating;

•  paper consumption;

•  water consumption;

•  waste generation;

•  greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Setting environmental targets

The performance of each environmental aspect is assessed by default against the 
rolling average of the previous 5-years’ performance. The performance indicators 
are — as a minimum — zero-growth targets compared with the 5-year rolling average. 
The years 2020 and 2021 are statistical outliers because of the Covid-19 pandemic 
and could have been excluded from the 5-year average. Keeping these outlier years 
in the 5-year average, however, leads to a moderate increase in the level of ambition 
throughout all environmental performance indicators for the coming years. The EEA 
therefore included 2020 and 2021 in the 5-year average. 

For the EEA’s greenhouse gas emissions, annual targets follow a ‘high-ambition 
level pathway’, which was endorsed by the EEA’s senior management team in 
January 2022. The ‘high-ambition level pathway’ proposes a more than 50% reduction 
of the EEA’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2019 (see Annex 1). 
All environmental targets are reviewed by the senior management in the annual 
management review.

Measuring environmental performance

The environmental performance is commonly measured in relation to the number of 
staff members working at the EEA and/or the office space (area). 

The number of staff members is expressed as full-time equivalent (FTE) staff and 
is based on the same methodology as for the EEA’s other administrative reporting 
(Figure 3.1). The number of FTE staff is correctly adjusted for staff working on 
part-time contracts. Consultants are excluded, while extended leave and absences 
are taken into account. The change in working hours from 37.5 hours to 40 hours, 
which took place in 2014, was considered in the methodology. 

14

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

Figure 3.1 

 Number of full-time equivalent staff, 2018-2023

211

212

209

222

244

257

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Source: 

EEA Administrative Services. 

The calculation of the environmental impacts per square metre is adjusted according 
to the changing floor space rented by the EEA. Since 2005, some EEA staff members 
have been working in buildings other than the main building at KN6. Since 2010, the 
EEA has been renting space in an adjacent building (KN8). Initially two floors were 
rented, and since 2011 three floors have been rented. In early 2022, the lease for the 
basement in KN8 was discontinued. The size of the two buildings is approximately 
10,000m2 in total (7,200m2 in KN6 and 2,800m2 in KN8). In 2019, the EEA started a 
renovation project towards a ‘new way of working’ replacing individual offices by 
open office space to introduce so-called ‘activity-based working’. The refurbishment 
project progressed as planned in 2023; the second floor of the building KN6 was fully 
completed, the third floor (east and back) are ready to be opened in 2024. The project 
is expected to be finalised by the end of 2024. Once the remaining floors in KN6 have 
been converted to open activity-based working space, floors currently rented in KN8 
may be able to be released, but this will depend on projections for EEA staff numbers. 

One element of the ‘new way of working’ is an increased flexibility for staff to 
telework. The electricity, heating and water used, as well as waste generated in 
home-offices is not included in the respective performance indicators. The EEA 
recognises and transparently reports that certain reductions observed in the EEA’s 
environmental performance trends may be caused by externalising environmental 
impacts rather than gains in efficiency. For its carbon footprint, the EEA chose to 
extend the scope and to include estimates of staff’s CO2 emissions generated in the 
home-office environment in its own estimates (see Annex 1).

3.1 

Continually improving the EEA’s environmental performance 

In 2023, the activities and operations at the EEA and its environmental performance 
were not influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic as much as they were in 2020, 2021 
and to some extent 2022. 

However, the data show that the Covid-19 pandemic was indeed a catalyst for 
developments that otherwise might have taken several years to complete. The 
paperless office, for example, seems to be integrated in daily practices, along with 
the widespread use of videoconferencing as a replacement for many physical 
meetings. Furthermore, an increased capacity in the digital literacy of all staff was 
achieved in arguably record time. In the context of the ‘new way of working’, the 
Covid-19 pandemic also sped up implementation of the EEA’s renovation project 
towards an activity-based workplace, which will have significant synergy effects on 
the EEA’s environmental performance. For example, activity-based working in open 

15

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

offices is often concomitant with a reduction in square metres per staff member, 
which leads to less electricity and heating consumption per staff member. Another 
example supporting the improvement of the EEA’s environmental performance 
is the newly equipped meeting rooms, allowing for more and higher quality 
videoconferencing in line with the EEA’s climate neutrality target.

On our way out of the pandemic, it was and remains important to actively reflect, 
raise awareness and promote useful practices and habits adopted during the 
pandemic. Some measures were included in the action plans of the annual 
environmental management programmes since 2021 and continued, such as 
promoting the continuation of reduced levels of printing and staff travel, and the 
increased use of videoconferencing and blended meetings to reduce visitor travel. 
However, it became clear that there are rebound effects associated with increased 
business travel as well as teleworking. The environmental impact of the home office, 
which is clearly outside the EEA’s direct control but can be influenced by awareness-
raising campaigns to help staff minimise potential adverse effects.

Distance to annual environmental targets

Figure 3.2 shows the distance between annual environmental performance and 
the EEA’s annual environmental targets since 2018. The colours illustrate over- or 
underachievement (green or orange) compared to the annual targets. The EEA has 
been meeting most its environmental targets across the environmental impacts 
monitored each year since 2018, for example, for electricity and paper consumption 
(in-house paper consumption and external printing of publications). A rebound effect 
is visible with a slight decrease in overall performance in 2023, water consumption 
and greenhouse gas emissions of concern. The trends in the performance of 
individual environmental impact are discussed in the following chapters.

16

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

Figure 3.2 

Environmental performance compared with environmental targets (%), 
2018-2023

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

-12.0%

-30.7%

-35.7%

-34.4%

-25.6%

-71.0%

-70.1%

-84.2%

-82.8%

-86.1%

-89.3%

-72.9%

-68.3%

-65.1%

-58.1%

-100.0%

-100.0%

Total direct energy consumption 
(electricity and heating)*

Electricity consumption
(staff related)/FTE

Paper consumption
(printing documents)/FTE

-14.4%

-17.6%

-10.6%

-16.7%

Paper consumption
(printing documents)

-12.2%

-22.4%

Paper consumption
(printing publications)

-75.9%

-50.6%

42.7%

Total waste generation*

Waste generation/FTE

Water consumption*

Water consumption/FTE*

Greenhouse gas emission
(high ambition level scenario)*

1.7%

0.90%

14.3%

-8.0%

Notes: 

 * Corresponds to indicators introduced in 2023. 

 Up until 2022, quantified targets for the performance indicators heating, water consumption, 
carbon footprint were not specified by the EEA. Water consumption covers the canteen, staff 
kitchenettes, coffee areas, toilets and showers. Calculation of the carbon footprint is partly 
based on estimates from previous years. The overall figure is probably underestimated.  

FTE, Full-time equivalent. 

Sources: 

  EEA Communication, EEA Administrative Services.

-12.7%

-25.5%

49.0%

27.2%

-48.6%

17

Environmental statement 2023 
 
Environmental performance 2023

Benchmark of excellence

The EEA assessed the EMAS sectoral reference document for public 
administration (8) for each of its core indicators against the best environmental 
management practices. The assessment concludes that relevant EEA practices are in 
line with best practice for paper consumption and waste generation, but water use is 
slightly higher. 

Figure 3.3 

Environmental performance compared with the benchmark of excellence 
for the public administration sector, 2018-2023

Environmental impact

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

22.6

19.9

6.5

3.3

4.2

3.9

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Paper consumption
(printing documents)
(A4 sheets/FTE/
working day)

Share of environmentally
friendly certified office
paper purchased

Water use (m3/FTE)

9.2

8.1

3.4

3.4

6.6

8.7

Waste generation (kg/FTE)

208

Benchmark of 
excellence*

Office paper
consumption is 
lower than 15 A4
sheets/FTE/working
day

Office paper used is 
100% recycled or 
certified according to
and Iso Type ecolabel
(EU ecolabel)

Total water use is 
lower than 
6.4 m3/FTE/year

Total waste 
generation in office
building is lower than
200 kg/FTE/year

177

148

152

151

Notes: 

  *Commission Decision (EU) 2019/61 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental 
management practices, sector environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of 
excellence for the public administration sector.

 For the calculation of office paper consumption/FTE/working day, 210 working days per FTE per 
year were assumed. Water consumption data are only available for the building KN6, while for 
KN8, a proxy was estimated based on m3/m2 of KN6 not including water use by the canteen.  

125

FTE, Full-time equivalent

Sources:     EEA Communication, EEA Administrative Services.

3.2  

Energy

The EEA is part of the Copenhagen municipality, which is committed to being 
CO2 neutral by 2025 under its CPH climate plan 2025 and its new climate plan for 
2035. The municipality achieved a reduction in CO2 emissions of more than 54% 
between 2005 and 2019, mostly due to the green conversion of the power-generation 
and district heating systems (9). The current electricity provider, Ørsted, delivers 100 
% of the municipality’s power from renewables, mainly wind energy (see Box 3.1).

(8)   Commission Decision (EU) 2019/61.

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Environmental statement 2023 
 
Environmental performance 2023

Box 3.1

Energy certificates

The Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB) is responsible for the development, use and 
promotion of the European Energy Certificate System (EECS). The market for Renewable 
Energy Certificate System (RECS) was administered by AIB in accordance with the EECS, 
but it has now been replaced by the obligatory guarantees of origin required by various 
EU directives. The principles and rules of operation of the EECS define a certificate 
as an electronic document that identifies the source and method of production of a 
unit of energy and relates to a specific purpose — such as energy source disclosure or 
compliance with an obligation. The EECS serves to harmonise energy certificates, thus 
ensuring that AIB member organisations’ registries are compatible with one another. 

Ørsted’s transition to green power is happening within the framework of the European 
Guarantees of Origin scheme. The company buys ‘green-certificates’ for all of its 
residential customers in Denmark. A green certificate is a guarantee of origin that proves 
that a given share of power is generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar 
or biomass. In Ørsted’s 2023 sustainability report, it is stated that the company covers 
100% of its own power consumption with green certificates, mainly from its offshore 
wind farms. 

District heating for the EEA is provided by HOFOR, the local heating provider in 
Copenhagen. The ‘Copenhagen climate plan 2025. Roadmap 2021-2025’, foresees 
16 initiatives across four main action areas to reduce emissions from energy 
production: Carbon Neutral District Heating, Carbon Neutral Utilities, Wind and 
Sun, and Resources and Waste. The city new climate plan 2035 reinforces those 
initiatives. HOFOR is committed to contribute to achieving the goal set by the city 
of Copenhagen. For example, in 2019, it put in operation a new biomass-fired power 
station unit, BIO4, at Amager Power Station. BIO4 replaced the last coal fired power 
station unit in Copenhagen and district heating is now more than 80% carbon neutral. 

3.2.1  Performance on energy consumption

Until 2021, the consumption of electricity was divided into the electricity used for 
central computing and data storage (i.e. IT servers) and staff-related use of electricity 
in offices and meeting rooms. In 2021, the EEA’s server infrastructure was co-
located to an external datacentre in Copenhagen and the monitoring and reporting 
of electricity use from central computing and data storage of the IT servers therefore 
shifted from direct to indirect energy consumption. Despite not being accounted 
for directly in the EEA’s energy consumption, in 2023 an increase was seen in the 
electricity consumption (+12%) of the EEA’s IT server infrastructure, which has been 
co-located since 2022 in an external, energy efficient data centre.

Staff related electricity consumption on the premises increased slightly in 2023 
(+4.7%). The increase in staff and a higher occupancy of the building (2-days 
mandatory presence) was mitigated by energy efficient docking stations replacing 
desktop computers and the continued increased teleworking practices of staff. 
It is important to note that electricity and heating consumed in home-offices are 
not included in this performance indicator. However, for the EEA’s carbon footprint 
(see Chapter 3.6 and Annex 1) estimates of staff’s CO2 emissions generated in the 
home-office environment were made.

(9)  Copenhagen climate plan 2025. Roadmap 2021-2025, CPH 2025 Climate Plan — Roadmap 2021-2025 2020 (itera.dk)

19

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

On the other hand, energy consumption linked to heating decreased slightly (-2.4%), 
which could be associated with the application of the EU and Danish guidance for 
limiting indoor heating, as well as the temporary closure of part of the building under 
refurbishment leading to a higher efficiency per square metre.

 The increase in electricity consumption remains within the agreed target. With 
the increased deployment of the open office, efficiency per square metre has 
improved. Apart from these short-term developments in electricity consumption, the 
longer-term overall trend is declining as a result of targeted measures such as the 
installation of more energy-efficient computing, multifunctional devices and new light 
sensors in corridors with energy-efficient LED lights, and not least an increasing level 
of environmental awareness among staff (Figure 3.4 and Figure 3.5).

Figure 3.4 

Direct energy consumption shares for electricity and heating, 2018-2023

Notes: 

  Heating data are only available for the building KN6. For KN8, a proxy was estimated based on 
kWh/m2 of KN6. Energy consumption for heating was corrected by heating degree days using a 
10-year average to normalise the timeline.

Source: 

EEA Administrative services.

20

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

Figure 3.5 

 Consumption of direct energy, 2018-2023

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Total electricity
consumption (kWh)

636,493

615,346

527,620

Change
2021-2022

Change
2022-2023

-3.5%

4.7%

Staff related 
electricity
consumption

443,160

420,142

313,703

302,809*

316,969*

0.3%

4.7%

334,537

301,859

302,309*

316,969*

Heating

1,001,833

Total direct energy
consumption

1,638,326

899,868

917,452

938,044

971,156

947,838

3.5%

-2.4%

1.8%

-0.7%

1,515,214

1,445,072

1,251,747

1,273,965

1,264,807

Notes: 

  Heating consumption data are only available for the building KN6. For KN8, a proxy was 
estimated based on kWh/m2 of KN6. 

  Energy consumption for heating was corrected by degree days using a 10-year average to 
normalise the time-series. 

* Total electricity and staff-related electricity are the same in 2022 and 2023 since the direct 
electricity consumption for the in-house server room accounted to zero due to the co-location of 
the EEA′s server infrastructure to an external data-centre.

Source: 

  EEA Administrative services.

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Environmental statement 2023 
 
Environmental performance 2023

Figure 3.6 

 Consumption of direct energy per full-time equivalent (FTE), 2018-2023

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

3,017

2,903

2,524

1,413

1,241

1,233

Change
2021-2022

Change
2022-2023

-12.2%

-0.6%

2,100

1,982

1,601

1,360

1,241

1,233

-8.7%

-0.6%

Total electricity
consumption per
staff member
(kWh/FTE)

Staff related 
electricity
consumption
per staff member
(kWh/FTE)

Heating consumption
per staff member
(kWh/FTE)

4,784

4,245

4,390

4,225

3,980

3,688

Total direct energy
consumption per
staff member
(kWh/FTE)

7,765

7,147

6,914

5,639

5,221

4,921

-5.8%

-7.3%

-7.4%

-5.7%

Notes: 

See Figure 3.5.

Source:   EEA Administrative services.

Figure 3.7 

Consumption of direct energy per floor area (m2), 2018-2023

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Change
2021-2022

Change
2022-2023

Heating per 
floor area
(kWh/m2)

96.6

88.6

84.3

97.6

97.1

97.1

-0.6%

0%

Total direct energy
consumption 
per floor area
(kWh/m2)

164

152

145

125

127

126

-1.8%

-0.7%

Notes: 

See Figure 3.5.

Source:   EEA Administrative services.

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Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

3.2.2  Actions and improvements

As part of the EEA’s renovation project towards a ‘new way of working’, the EEA’s Data 
and information services replaced desk-top personal computers with more energy 
efficient docking stations and laptops. This is helping to reduce staff-related use of 
electricity on the EEA’s premises in the longer term. 

To contribute to energy saving efforts in autumn and winter and in line with the 
recommendations issued by the Danish Authorities, the EEA lowered the temperature 
of its thermostats to 19° Celsius and switched off outdoor lightening.

Table 3.1 

 Evaluation of action plan 2023

Environmental impact

Source of impact 

Action plan

1. Energy consumption

Raise awareness 
and promote 
energy efficiency 
and renewable 
energy solutions.

Total direct energy 
consumption (total electricity 
and heating).

Total renewable energy 
consumption (total electricity).

‘Staff-related’ use of electricity 
in offices and meeting rooms 
(personal computers, printers, 
copy machines, lights etc.).

Note:  

COM, Communications Programme.

3.3 

Paper

Responsible for 
implementation

Status of implementation

COM, EMAS team Implemented. Regular 

information on intranet on 
refurbishment project and 
new IT equipment.

Information about 
energy saving measures 
and lower heating 
temperatures.

3.3.1  Performance on paper consumption

Following the installation of new and fewer multifunctional devices (MFDs) in 2017 
and the implementation of the ‘follow-me’ or uniflow printing system, a steady drop in 
physical printouts and a stable reduction in in-house paper use have been achieved, 
both in absolute figures and per FTE employee (Figure 3.8 and Figure 3.9). Under 
this system, print jobs are triggered by swiping an access card through a reader on 
the closest MFD. This system avoids double printing and results in reduced printing 
demand. The fleet number was reduced from 36 machines to 15 MFDs in 2017. 
These are more energy efficient, boast low air and noise pollution levels and are both 
TEC3 and Blue Angel certified (10).

In 2023, the reduced printing habits of staff were maintained, thanks also to the 
increased digitalisation of administrative workflows, with the full deployment of 
SYSPER. 

(10)  TEC is the typical energy consumption standard, 1.3 kWh/week.

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Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

The application of the zero print policy for EEA publications adopted in 2022 has 
been fully applied, with no discernible negative impact on the outreach and visibility 
of EEA products.

Figure 3.8 

Paper consumption: in-house printing of A4 pages, 2018-2023

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

999,416

887,942

286,316

214,884

213,001

152,583

Source: 

EEA Administrative services.

24

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

Figure 3.9 

Paper consumption: in-house printing and printed reports, 2018-2023

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Number of sheets
printed in house

887,942

999,416

Change
2021-2022

Change
2022-2023

20.4%

-0.9%

Number of sheets 
printed in house
per FTE

Number of pages
in printed reports

4,737

4,188

2,960,500

1,960,000

286,316

152,583

214,884

213,001

1,370

690

881

829

28.1%

-5.9%

-100%

0%

779,000

Note: 

FTE, full-time equivalent staff.

Source: 

EEA Communications.

284,200

0

0

25

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

3.3.2  Actions and improvements

The reduction in printing has been maintained, with a slight decrease in the number 
printed sheets per FTE. 

The reduction in printed products extended to exhibition material (posters, 
banners, etc.), where there were limited new printed examples, the reuse of existing 
material and the use of sustainable material for new products. 

The number of multi-functional devices (MFDs) was further reduced to one printer 
per floor during the EEA’s renovation project towards a ‘new way of working’. This 
has encouraged staff to maintain their habit of printing  less that started during the 
Covid-19 pandemic. The EEA’s Communication programme implemented a ‘zero-print 
policy’ for EEA reports and piloted several web-reports, promoting the digitalisation 
of EEA products. The EEA’s administrative procedures were further digitalised by 
implementing SYSPER, the European Commission’s human resource management 
information system and ARES-Q electronic signatures.

Table 3.2 

Evaluation of action plan 2023

Environmental impact

Source of impact 

Action plan

2. Paper consumption

Printing documents 
and emails

Promote paperless office and 
maintaining reduced printing 
habits adopted during the COVID-
19-induced lockdown.

Continue digitalisation of 
administrative workflows 
(e.g. implementation of SYSPER)

Responsible for 
implementation

Status of implementation

EMAS team

Implemented

ADS

Implemented

Printing publications 
externally

Continue to apply the EEA´s 
zero-print publication policy

COM

Implemented

Notes:  

ADS, EEA Administrative services; COM, EEA Communications. 

3.4 

Water

3.4.1  Performance on water consumption

The EEA’s consumption of water has decreased since 2013. This has been achieved 
through a combination of measures, including the replacement of leaking toilets, 
generally lower consumption by staff and the optimisation of canteen operations. 
The significantly lower consumption in 2020 and 2021 was caused by the lower 
occupancy of staff on the EEA premises during the Covid-19 pandemic (Figure 3.10 
and Figure 3.11).

26

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

In 2023, water consumption increased compared with pre-pandemic levels, mainly 
driven by water consumption of the canteen (1/3 of the overall consumption).

To try and reduce food waste, lunch in the canteen is served in several bowls per 
staff member, although this does mean more cleaning in the dishwasher is required.

Figure 3.10 

 Trend in water consumption, 2018-2023

m3

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,396

1,069

1,000

500

0

1,357

1,150

880

653

631

538

549

471

172

119

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Staff water use (toilets, shower, staff kitchenettes, coffee areas)

Canteen

Note:  

  Water consumption data are only available for building KN6. For KN8 a proxy was estimated 
based on the square metres in KN6, excluding canteen use.

Source:  

 EEA Administrative services. 

27

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

Figure 3.11 

 Water consumption, 2018-2023

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Change
2021-2022

Change
2022-2023

Total water 
consumption
(excluding
canteen) (m3)

1,396

1,069

1,150

1,357

82%

18%

Water
consumption
canteen (m3)

538

653

549

631

880

295%

87%

471

172

119

Total water
consumption
(excluding
canteen) per
staff member
(m3/FTE)

65%

12%

6.6

5.0

4.7

5.3

2.6

2.8

Notes: 

  Water consumption data are only available for building KN6. For KN8 a proxy was estimated 
based on the square metres in KN6 (excluding the canteen). 

FTE, full-time equivalent staff.

Source:  

  EEA Administrative services.

3.4.2  Actions and improvements

Table 3.3 

Evaluation of action plan 2023

Environmental impact

Source of impact 

Action plan

3. Water

Water consumption 
(canteen, staff kitchens/
kitchenettes, coffee areas, 
toilets and showers)

Raise awareness and 
promote resource-efficient 
water consumption

Responsible for 
implementation

Status of implementation

EMAS team/HoGs

Partly implemented

Notes:  

HoGs, Heads of Group.

28

Environmental statement 2023 
Environmental performance 2023

3.5 

Waste

3.6.1  Performance on waste generation

The EEA’s waste sorting improved significantly in 2018 and 2019, and helped 
increase the amount of EEA waste recycled at communal level. Since then, waste 
has been sorted into household, organic, plastic, glass, paper, electronic and 
metal streams. 

The large amount of total waste in 2019, in particular paper and household waste, 
was driven by the removal of 90 offices as part of the EEA’s reorganisation and 
the start of the refurbishment of the second floor in the building KN6, involving the 
thorough sorting of 17 offices, including archives. Since 2020, amounts of household 
waste have remained high because of the continued renovation (Figure 3.12 and 
Figure 3.13). In 2021, paper, plastic and organic waste rebounded compared to 2020, 
but all three fractions remain at lower levels than before the pandemic. Electronic 
waste saw a sharp increase of 376% between 2020 and 2021. This was driven 
by the implementation of new IT workstations without desk phones and personal 
computers as part of the EEA’s renovation project towards a ‘new way of working’ 
and the replacement of older laptops by newer models. 

In 2023, the total waste generated by the EEA continued to decrease (-13%). The 
reduction was mainly driven by lower amounts of household waste, paper and 
electronic waste. 

In May 2023, separate collection of several new waste fractions was introduced, 
following Danish national requirements. As part of the EMAS activities for 2023, 
a new waste sorting system w been introduced on all floors of the EEA building, 
with accompanying information for staff. The data for 2023 on separately collected 
waste fractions indicate an increase in the amounts of collected plastics, metals, 
cardboard and glass compared to 2022, indicating that this new system seems to be 
taking effect. 

Thanks to the donation policy, a large share of old canteen porcelain and cutlery has 
been donated. 

29

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

Figure 3.12 

 Waste generation per waste fraction, 2017-2023

Tonnes

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Household

Cardboard

Paper

Organic

Electronic

Glass

Plastic

Metal

Source: 

 EEA Administrative services.

30

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

Figure 3.13 

Waste generation per waste fraction (kg), 2018-2023

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

24,755

23,098

23,820

23,745

14,445

1,958

5,162

7,197

1,701

9,000

6,178

610

452

845

4,070

6,470

4,780

17,934

1,355

3,360

Change
2021-2022

Change
2022-2023

-0.3%

-24.5%

86.9%

60.4%

-26.1%

-29.7%

4,585

4,585

54.3%

0%

2,510

2,972

4,681

860

410

984

1,450

1,230

-69.0%

-15.2%

Household

Cardboard

Paper

Organic

Electronic

Glass

856

Plastic

778 (a)

200

200

550

600

1,081

569

575

332

Metal

Total waste

Total waste
per FTE

216 (b)

300

44,085

208

31,256

148

310

140

39,304

36,840

0

31,804

152

178

151

1,450

1,055

1,043

32,012

125

175.0%

163.0%

1.1%

83.5%

121.4%

236.0%

-6.3%

-13.1%

-14.7%

-17.5%

Notes: 

 (a) The weighing of plastic waste was added to the reporting. Data are for the full year.

 (b) Newly added fraction for reporting. Not included in total as not a full year. 

FTE, full-time equivalent staff.

Source:  

  EEA Administrative services

31

Environmental statement 2023 
 
Environmental performance 2023

3.6.2  Actions and improvements

As part of the EMAS activities for 2023, a new waste sorting system has been 
introduced on all floors of the EEA building, with accompanying information for 
EEA staff (posters, information sessions). This aligns with the Danish national 
requirements for separate waste collection. 

In agreement with the new donation policy, IT (50-60 screens, mobile phones ), office 
equipment (chairs) and canteen porcelain and cutlery have been donated to staff and 
external organisations that expressed interest. This gives a second life to these items 
and has avoided the generation of 600-800kg of waste. 

Recognising the vast amounts of electronic waste at the EEA in 2021 and, more 
generally, the growing environmental issue of the short lifespans of many electronic 
devices such as laptops and smart phones, the EEA’s Data and Information Services 
started to develop a sustainable green IT policy at the EEA. 

Table 3.4 

Evaluation of action plan 2023

Environmental impact

Source of impact 

Action plan

4. Waste generation

Waste reduction, sorting 
and recycling

Raise awareness of 
avoiding sorting and 
recycling waste

Responsible for 
implementation

EMAS team/ADS

Status of implementation

Implemented. Information 
campaign, posters. 

Provision of a ′Green IT 
policy′

DIS

In progress, text 
developed, not endorsed 
yet

Notes:  

ADS, Administrative services; DIS, Data and information systems.

3.6  

Carbon dioxide emissions

CO2 Emissions related to staff business travel and visitor travel have been reported 
since 2006. In the same year, a carbon-offsetting scheme was introduced. The 
carbon-offsetting scheme is managed by the EEA’s travel agent, which collaborates 
with GoClimate  a Swedish company specialising in reducing greenhouse gas 
emissions (certified with Gold Standard). Certificates are issued to confirm the 
offsetting of emissions (see 2023 offset charge in Figure 3.15). As a reference, 
a return flight from Copenhagen to Brussels emits 257 kgCO2e (carbon dioxide 
equivalent). A return train journey between Copenhagen and Stockholm emits 
only 17 kgCO2e. The EEA encourages staff to use train travel where convenient 
connections are available, such as for Stockholm.

32

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

3.7.1  Performance on CO2 emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions from staff and visitor travel decreased slightly in 
2018 and 2019 after a peak in 2016. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 
EEA temporarily stopped almost all business travel and physical meetings at the 
EEA’s premises from March 2020. In 2021, only 15 tCO2e were emitted from staff and 
visitor travel, 84% less than in 2020 (see Figure 3.14).

In 2020, the Executive Director decided to raise the EEA’s climate ambitions, stating 
its aim to become a climate-neutral organisation. Throughout 2021, a study was 
carried out by consultants to calculate the EEA’s carbon footprint with an extended 
scope in accordance with the Bilan Carbone Methodology (developed by ADEME) 
and the GHG Protocol (developed by the World Resources Institute and the World 
Business Council for Sustainable Development). Both methodologies are in line 
with the ISO 14064 Standard and are commonly used by EU institutions. The study 
also identified potential greenhouse gas emission reduction measures for the 
development of pathways towards climate neutrality (see Annex 1). 

In 2022 and 2023, greenhouse gas emissions rebounded again, but remained well 
below pre-pandemic levels. This is owing to a reduced budget for business travel 
compared to before the pandemic, along with the EEA’s pledge to become climate 
neutral by 2030 and  increased awareness of the environmental impact of flying 
among staff.

Figure 3.14 

CO2 emissions from staff and visitor travel, 2017-2023 and additional 
emission sources, 2018-2023

tCO2e

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

CO2 emissions from visitors

CO2 emissions from staff missions

Food

Daily staff commuting

District heating

Refridgerants

Paper

Service contracts

Fixed assetss — IT

Waste

Electricity

Teleworking

Note: 

  From May to August 2022, the EEA was not contracting a travel service provider, which led to 
a gap in the data-monitoring. The data-series for staff and visitor travel in 2022 was therefore 
gap-filled by the EEA. 2023 figures for staff and visitors do not account for travel booked 
directly by the travellers. In the absence of updated data for daily commuting and teleworking, 
emissions for this sector have been estimated on the basis of 2022 values, which may reflect an 
underestimation of the emissions of this sector. 

33

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

Figure 3.15 

 CO2 emissions from travel and meetings (tCO2e), 2018-2023

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Change
2021-2022

Change
2022-2023

Offsetting
charge 2023

Emissions
from meeting
participants

Emissions 
from EEA
missions

550

515

404

361

Total emissions
for staff and 
meeting
participants

876

954

19,704%

-30%

EUR 1,451

62

0.7

138.6

96.7

37

14.7

93

76.4

533%

-18%

EUR 1,146

1,403%

-25%

231.6

EUR 2,597

99

15.4

173.1

Note:  

 Offsetting charge corresponds to the amount paid by EEA for offsetting emissions from staff and 
meeting participants in 2023.

Source:   Travel service, EEA Administrative Services.

3.7.2 

Improvements and action plan

The EEA compiled and published on the intranet staff guidance for a ‘new normal’ in 
terms of physical meetings. The guidance supports the greenhouse gas reduction 
target of the EEA and sets out principles that should be considered when trying 
to avoid emissions from physical meetings. For example, by default, physical 
participation in meetings shall be well justified, especially when online participation 
is offered and where possible, several meetings should be combined in one mission. 
Furthermore, the EEA mission guidelines set out that direct flights, rather than 
longer indirect flights, as well as rail travel are allowed and encouraged, even when 
more expensive.

34

Environmental statement 2023Environmental performance 2023

Table 3.5 

Evaluation of action plan 2023

Environmental impact

Source of impact 

Action plan

5. Greenhouse gas 
emissions

Staff business travel

Development of ‘Staff travel 
guidance’ as part of the EEA’s 
climate neutrality activities.

Replace staff travel with 
blended meetings and 
videoconferencing to a 
large extent.

Promote continuation of 
reduced travel practices 
to prevent a rebound to 
pre-Covid-19 levels

External participants 
coming to 
EEA-organised 
meetings

Develop ‘EEA stakeholder 
meeting guidance’ as 
part of the EEA’s climate 
neutrality activities

Replace meetings on EEA 
premises by blended meetings 
and videoconferencing to a 
large extent

Promote continuation of 
reduced travel practices 
among external participants 
of EEA-organised meetings to 
prevent rebound to pre-Covid-19 
levels of emissions.

Responsible for 
implementation

CNS

Status of implementation

Implemented.  
Available on intranet.

HoGs/all staff

Implemented

EMAS team/HoGs

Partially implemented

CNS

In progress

HoGs/all staff

Implemented

EMAS team/HoGs

Not implemented

Notes:  

CNS, Coordination, networks and strategy; HoGs, Heads of Group.

35

Environmental statement 20234   Other relevant environmental topics

4.1 

Green procurement

The EEA also regularly evaluates its activities to optimise and improve outputs, while 
limiting the use of resources and minimising negative impacts on the environment. 
One way to achieve this is through our procurement process, which follows the 
green public procurement guidelines: an ‘environmental impact statement’ is written 
in the initial proposal for procurement, and specific, robust environmental criteria 
and ‘environmental considerations’ appear in the tender specifications. Tenderers 
have to comply with these criteria and considerations to be eligible for a contract. 
It is standard EEA practice to build environmental considerations into procurement 
(see Table 4.1). The EMAS environmental team is involved in the preparation of 
the procurement documents and invited to propose the inclusion of green public 
procurement criteria (11). 

Significant technical specifications have, for example, been included in the most 
recent procurement procedure for canteen services, such as: 

• 

the requirement for tenderers to have the silver organic cuisine label (60-90% 
organic produce);

•  provision of vegetarian food only (i.e. no fish or fish products from species and 

stocks identified in a ‘fish to avoid’ list) at least 2 days per week; 

•  at least 50% of coffee, tea, chocolate (cocoa) and sugar purchased must have a 

fair and ethical trade certification from a scheme that requires a minimum certified 
content of 90%.

Table 4.1 

Evaluation of action plan 2023

Environmental impact

Source of impact 

Action plan

6. Various negative 
environmental impacts 
of the EEA

All procurement

Raise awareness 
of the appropriate 
implementation of green 
procurement.

Calls for tender for 
relevant services must 
include environmental 
criteria according to the 
type of goods purchased.

Notes:  

ADS, Administrative services.

Responsible for 
implementation

Status of implementation

ADS

Implemented

ADS/all staff

Implemented

(11)  European Commission – Green Public Procurement Green Public Procurement (europa.eu)

36

Environmental statement 2023Other relevant environmental topics

4.2 

Raising environmental awareness

4.2.1  Delivering environmental data and knowledge

The EEA’s key goals are to be the prime source of environmental data and knowledge 
at the European level and to play a leading role in supporting the long-term transition 
to a sustainable society. The EEA helps to achieve significant and measurable 
improvement in Europe’s environment through the provision of timely, targeted, 
relevant and reliable information to policymaking agents and the public.

The key outputs of the EEA are reports/assessments, briefings, environmental 
indicators, core data flows and Eionet collaboration covering a wide range of 
environmental aspects, such as biodiversity, water, climate, energy, transport, air 
pollution, health and sustainable resource use. The EEA’s consolidated annual activity 
report (CAAR) outlines the EEA’s work and achievements during the previous year (12) 
and evaluates the outputs against the objectives.

4.2.2  External communication on EMAS

In its environmental policy, the EEA commits to making use of its own experience and 
accumulated knowledge in managing environmental performance to influence and 
inspire other EU bodies and institutions. 

The EEA is part of the EU Agencies Network (EUAN) and the Greening Network 
of EU Agencies, which aim to share best practices in the implementation of 
environmental management systems under EMAS, and improvement activities 
(see Box 4.1). In 2021, the EEA chaired the EUAN, putting an emphasis on a green 
agenda in alignment with the priorities of the current Commission. One of the 
priorities during the EEA’s coordination of the EUAN was to promote a greener, more 
digital and resilient administration of excellence under which two avenues of action 
were pursued: (1) increasing use of digital means for meetings; and (2) promoting 
sustainable transitions and climate neutrality in EU agencies. Since then, the EEA has 
continued to actively participate in and contribute to the EUAN greening network and 
its working groups

Box 4.1

The EUAN and the Greening Network of Agencies

This inter-agency network was set up by the EEA in 2006 and was formally recognised 
by the heads of administration of EU agencies in May 2016. With more than 25 members 
from EU agencies, the network addresses common environmental topics, with particular 
focus on implementation and registration under the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme 
Regulation. The Greening Network is also involved in EU environmental governance 
through representation in the informal Inter-institutional Group on Environmental 
Management.

4.2.3 

Internal communication on EMAS

Internally, EMAS is part of the EEA’s induction programme, during which all new 
employees get to know how the EEA aims to improve its own environmental 
performance. In addition, as part of regular biannual internal audits, members of staff 
are interviewed about the aspects of their work that relate to EMAS. The results of 

(12)  The CAAR 2023 is available on the EEA website.

37

Environmental statement 2023Other relevant environmental topics

the internal audits and the key messages from the annual environmental statement 
report are presented to staff every year as part of the programme meetings.

To encourage more sustainable consumption and efficient resource use by 
employees in the workplace, as well as at home, the EMAS team provides regular 
information, including green tips, for example on the EMAS Teams site ‘EMAS – our 
environmental commitment’ and on the EEA intranet. The EMAS Teams site was 
established in 2020 to engage with staff during the Covid-19 pandemic, to share 
ideas, questions, links and tips about our environmental commitment at the EEA. 
The EMAS page on the EEA intranet was also refreshed and provides up-to-date 
information on EMAS activities at the EEA throughout the year. 

4.2.4 

Improvements and action plan

Table 4.2 

Evaluation of action plan 2023

Environmental impact

Source of impact 

Action plan

7. Various positive 
environmental 
impacts of the EEA — 
awareness rising

Green internal and external 
communication/awareness 
raising activities

Develop and implement 
an integrated approach 
to internal and external 
communication 
(communication plan)

Initiate and contribute 
to knowledge-exchange 
activities in the EUAN, the 
EU Agencies´Greening 
subnetwork, GIME 
and EPA

Responsible for 
implementation

Status of implementation

EMAS team/COM

Implemented

EMAS team/ADS

Implemented

Notes:  

  ADS, Administrative services; COM, Communications; GIME, Group on Environmental 
Management; EPA, Environmental Protection Agency network.

4.3 

Other environmental impacts not monitored in quantitative terms

This section includes other environmental impacts that are not monitored in 
quantitative terms. These include environmental, economic and social impacts and 
the internal environment (Table 4.3).

Table 4.3 

Evaluation of action plan 2023

Environmental impact

Source of impact 

Action plan

8. Environmental, 
economic and social 
impacts

All EEA activities.

9. Internal environment Environment in 

buildings, health and 
safety aspects.

Raise awareness of synergies 
between positive environmental 
impacts and staff health and 
well-being aspects (e.g. reduced 
meat consumption, commuting 
by cycling)

Provide information on how to 
maximise environmental co-
benefits in the renovation of the 
office space in KN6 and the ‘new 
way of working’.

Responsible for 
implementation

EMAS team/
well-being 
coordinator

Status of implementation

Implemented

EMAS team

Implemented

38

Environmental statement 20235   Progress towards environmental performance  

indicators, 2023

Table 5.1 

Assessment of the distance between environmental performance and 
environmental targets, 2023

Environmental 
aspect

Source of 
impact 

Action plan

Performance 
indicator 2023

Target 
2023

Performance 
2023

Performance 
compared 
with target

1. Energy 
consumption

Total direct 
energy 
consumption 
(total electricity 
and heating)

Raise awareness 
and promote energy 
efficiency and 
renewable energy 
solutions

Total renewable 
energy 
consumption 
(total electricity)

‘Staff-related’ 
use of electricity 
in offices and 
meeting rooms 
(personal 
computers, 
printers, copy 
machines, lights, 
etc.)

Printing 
documents and 
emails

2. Paper 
consumption

Promote paperless 
office and maintain 
reduced printing 
habits adopted during 
the Covid-19-induced 
lockdown

Continue 
digitalisation of 
administrative 
workflows 
(e.g. implementation 
of SYSPER)

1,424,865kWh

1,264,807kWh

-12%

100%

100%

100%

1,657 kWh/
FTE

1,233 kWh/FTE

-26%

508,228 A4 
sheets

213,001 A4 
sheets

-58%

2,372 A4 
sheets/FTE

829 A4 sheets/
FTE

-65%

Zero-growth in 
total direct energy 
consumption for 
2023 (based on the 
5-year rolling average 
for 2018-2022)

Continue to use 
100% renewable 
electricity.

Zero-growth in 
staff-related 
electricity 
consumption 
per FTE for 2023 
(based on the 5-year 
rolling average for 
2018-2022)

Zero growth in 
A4 sheets printed 
(based on the rolling 
5-year average for 
2018-2022)

Zero growth in A4 
sheets printed per 
FTE (based on the 
rolling 5-year average 
for 2017-2021)

Printing 
publications 
externally

Continue to apply to 
the EEA’s ‘zero-print 
publication policy’

Zero printing of EEA 
publications

0 A4 pages

0 A4 pages

100%

3. Water

Raise awareness 
and promote 
resource-efficient 
water consumption

Water 
consumption 
(canteen, staff 
kitchens/ 
kitchenettes, 
coffee areas, 
toilets and 
showers)

Zero growth in 
water consumption 
(based on the rolling 
5-year average for 
2018-2022)

Zero growth in water 
consumption per 
FTE (based on the 
rolling 5-year average 
for 2018-2022)

1,501 m3

2,237 m3

+49%

6.8 m3/FTE

8.7 m3/FTE

+27%

39

Environmental statement 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Progress towards environmental performance indicators, 2023

Table 5.1 

Assessment of the distance between environmental performance and 
environmental targets, 2023 (cont.)

Environmental 
aspect

Source of 
impact 

Action plan

Performance 
indicator 2023

Target 
2023

Performance 
2023

4. Waste 
generation

Waste reduction, 
sorting  and 
recycling 

Raise awareness of 
avoiding, sorting and 
recycling waste

Zero growth in total 
generation of waste 
(based on the rolling 
5-year average for 
2018-2022)

Zero growth in 
total waste per FTE 
(based on the rolling 
5-year average for 
2018-2022)

Provision of a  
‘Green IT policy’

‘Green IT policy’ 
provided

Continue to 
replace staff travel 
with blended 
meetings and 
videoconferencing to 
a large extent

CO2e target for 2023 
according to the 
‘high-ambition level 
scenario’ trajectory 
towards climate 
neutrality by 2030

36,658 kg

32,012 kg

Performance 
compared 
with target

-13%

- 

167 kg/FTE 

125 kg/FTE

-25%

Developed

Not endorsed

676 tCO2e

347 tCO2e

-49%

Raise awareness and 
promote continuation 
of reduced staff 
travel practices

‘EEA stakeholder 
meeting guidance’ 
provided

Not quantified

Guidance 
developed and 
promoted

Low 
promotion 
and up-take

Guidance 
developed

1/3 of 
governance 
meetings 
(NFPs, MB) 
online and/or 
hybrid.  

Development of ‘EEA 
stakeholder meeting 
guidance’

Continue to 
replace meetings 
on EEA premises 
with blended 
meetings and 
videoconferencing to 
a large extent

Promote continuation 
of reduced travel 
practices among 
external participants 
of EEA-organised 
meetings

5. Greenhouse 
gas emissions

Carbon footprint 
of the EEA 
including scope 
1, 2 and 3 of 
the Greenhouse 
Gas Protocol 
methodology, 
in particular 
staff business 
travel, external 
participants 
coming to 
EEA-organised 
meetings

40

Environmental statement 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Progress towards environmental performance indicators, 2023

Table 5.1 

Assessment of the distance between environmental performance and 
environmental targets, 2023 (cont.)

Environmental 
aspect

Source of 
impact 

Action plan

Performance 
indicator 2023

Target 
2023

Performance 
2023

Performance 
compared 
with target

All procurement

6. Various 
negative 
environmental 
impacts of the 
EEA

7. Various 
positive 
environmental 
impacts 
of EEA 
awareness 
raising

Green internal 
and external 
communication/
awareness-
raising activities

Raise awareness 
of the appropriate 
implementation of 
green procurement

Calls for tender for 
relevant services 
must include 
environmental criteria 
according to the type 
of goods purchased 

Develop and 
implement 
an integrated 
approach to internal 
and external 
communication 
(communication 
plan)

Initiate and contribute 
to knowledge-
exchange activities 
in the EUAN, the EU 
Agencies’ Greening 
subnetwork, GIME 
and EPA.

Not quantified

Information 
provided

100%

100%

Integrated 
in tender 
procedure and 
management 
plan system

Provision of 
information on green 
procurement for 
staff

100% of 
procurement aligned 
with EU directives

100% of purchases 
are carried 
out against 
best available 
environmental 
criteria

Communication plan 
developed.

Not quantified

Communication 
plan 
implemented

Not quantified

Active participation 
in the EUAN, 
greening network 
and GIME.

9. Internal 
environment

Environment in 
buildings, health 
and safety 
aspects

Not quantified 

Provide information 
on how to maximise 
environmental 
co-benefits in the 
renovation of the 
office space in KN6 
and the ‘new way of 
working’.

Active participation 
in the cross-agency 
working group on 
the renovation of the 
office space in KN6 
and the new way of 
working

Contribution 
to EUAN 
coordination 
provided.

EMAS 
coordinator 
actively 
participated 
in Greening 
network, EMAS 
days and GIME

Effective 
collaboration 
with 
cross-agency 
group on 
the future 
workplace

Notes: 

  ADS, EEA Administrative Services; CNS, EEA Coordination, Network and Strategy;  
COM, EEA Communications; DIS, EEA Data and Information Services; EUAN, EU Agencies 
Network; GIME, Group on Environmental Management; EPA, Environment Protection Agency 
network; HoGs, Head of group; FTE, full-time equivalent staff; NFP, national focal point;  
MB, Management board.

41

Environmental statement 2023 
 
Annex 1 

A ‘high-ambition level pathway’ towards a  

climate neutral EEA

The Green Deal ambition for the EU is to achieve at least 55% net emission 
reductions by 2030 compared to 1990 and to become climate neutral by 2050. In 
this context, the European Commission committed to reach climate neutrality in its 
operations by 2030 and many EU institutions followed suit, for example, the European 
Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee, the European Court of Auditors and 
a number of European Agencies.

In November 2020, the EEA also decided to become climate neutral. In the course 
of 2021, the EEA contracted Ramboll and CO2logic to support the development of 
concrete pathways towards climate neutral operations. The objective of the climate 
neutrality pathways is to identify an array of feasible actions to reduce the EEA’s 
greenhouse gas emissions to help deliver climate neutrality by 2030, with remaining 
emissions to be compensated (offset) through purchased carbon removal credits. 

In January 2022, the Executive Director endorsed the high-ambition-level scenario, 
which assumes that more than 50% of the EEA’s greenhouse gas emissions will be 
reduced by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. Specific measures to achieve greenhouse 
gas emission cuts are under consideration and will be prioritised and approved on an 
annual basis as part of the EEA’s environmental management activities.

Results of the carbon footprint assessment

The year 2019 was selected as the base year for the climate neutrality pathways 
as it represents the last full year of ‘normal’ EEA operations pre-Covid. In 2019, the 
EEA’s carbon footprint was estimated to be 1,204 tCO2e compared to 312 tCO2e in 
2020. Visitor meetings and staff travel combined constituted 73% of the EEA’s carbon 
footprint in 2019, by far the two main contributions. 

The EEA’s carbon footprint was calculated in accordance with the Bilan Carbone 
Methodology (developed by ADEME) and the greenhouse gas Protocol (developed 
by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable 
Development). Both methodologies are in line with the ISO 14064 standard and are 
commonly used by EU institutions. According to these methods, direct greenhouse 
gas emissions that are owned and controlled by the EEA and certain indirect 
emissions not directly controlled by the EEA were included in the scope of the carbon 
footprint, for example:

• 

refrigerant losses on the premises (direct) 

•  electricity and district heating (indirect)

•  purchased services, e.g. canteen (indirect)

•  security and cleaning contracts (indirect)

•  purchased goods, e.g. paper for printing and reports, catered food (indirect)

• 

fixed assets, e.g. building, IT equipment (indirect)

•  staff and visitor travel, staff commuting, teleworking (indirect)

•  waste management (indirect).

42

Environmental statement 2023 
 
 
515.0

361.0

Annex 1

Figure A 1.1 

 EEA carbon footprint in the reference year 2019

Visitor travel

Staff missions

Food

Daily staff commuting

Waste

Fixed assetss — IT

Paper

Teleworking

Refridgerants

Service contracts

Heating

Electricity

139.0

96.7

93.0

76.4

108.8

43.1

35.1

74.2

14.8

21.4

13.2
15.3
13.7

10.3
10.4

34.7

26.3

4.9

6.8

0.4
0.4

6.3

5.3
5.3
5.3

4.9
5.4
5.4

<0.1
<0.1
<0.1

<0.1
<0.1
<0.1

0

100

200

300

400

500

600
tCO2e

Reference year 2019

2022

2023

Source: 

 Ramboll, CO2Logic, 2022.

Defining an ambition level for reductions

The consultants developed two scenarios — a high-ambition and a medium-ambition 
level scenario. The scenarios were developed ‘bottom up’, by aggregating identified 
GHG mitigation measures, which can themselves each be implemented with higher 
or lower ambition. This approach opens a range of possibilities between what could 
be considered lower and upper boundaries for possible reduction pathways towards 
reducing the EEA’s carbon footprint. The use of removal credits is still needed to 
obtain climate neutrality for both scenarios, but to a differing extent. The GHG 
mitigation measures were defined based on a comprehensive set of qualitative and 
quantitative criteria including plausibility (implementation, co-benefits, and drivers), 
feasibility (investment and operational costs, applicability and site sensitivity), and 
impact. This follows a similar approach to that followed by  the consultants when 
delivering work for the European Commission’s climate neutrality roadmap. The 
mitigation actions target GHG emissions in five areas:

•  Building management: electricity and heating consumption and refrigerants

•  Staff travel: travel of staff for missions (trains, flights, hotels)

•  New ways of working: daily commute and teleworking

•  Visitor travel: travel of visitors paid by the EEA (trains, flights, hotels)

•  Purchased goods and services: purchase (IT equipment, canteen contract, services 

contract, etc.) and waste management.

43

Environmental statement 2023Annex 1

The high ambition scenario is estimated to deliver a 54% emissions reduction in 2030 
in comparison to the 2019 carbon footprint. This implies that around 46% of residual 
emissions will still need to be compensated to reach climate neutrality. Expressed in 
relative terms per assumed FTE, the reduction is -67% of emissions per FTE, i.e. from 
5.8 tCO2e/FTE in 2019 to 1.9 tCO2e/FTE in 2030. For comparison, the ‘Covid’ 2020 
level was 1.3 tCO2e/FTE.

Figure A1.2 

 Emission reduction pathway, 2019-2030

t CO2e

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

Staff missions

Visitor travel

Building management

Purchase and waste

Daily commute and teleworking

Source: 

 Ramboll, CO2Logic, 2022.

The medium-ambition level scenario is estimated to deliver a 28% emissions 
reduction in 2030 in comparison to the 2019 carbon footprint. This means that 72% 
of residual emissions would need to be compensated to reach climate neutrality. 
A significant relative reduction of carbon footprint per FTE is observed in this 
scenario as well, i.e. a decrease from 5.8 tCO2e/FTE in 2019 to 3.1 tCO2e/FTE in 2030 
(2.5 times higher than the ‘Covid’ 2020 level of 1.3 tCO2e/FTE).

44

Environmental statement 2023Annex 1

Table A 1.1 

Comparison of most impactful measures in medium- and 
high‑ambition scenarios

Emissions  
source 
domains

Base year  
emissions 
2019 (tCO2e)

Share of total 
emissions 
2019

Staff travel

355

28%

Actions: emission reductions (medium/high)  
(% of 2019 emissions source domain)

Staff guidance/policy for missions (and carbon budget constraints): -33%/-50% of 
physical missions and related emissions.

50% of remaining missions to Brussels and some other cities by train: -1%/-22%

Visitor 
meetings

506

44%

Staff guidance for visitors’ meetings (and /or budget constraints): -20%/-40% of 
visitors’ physical missions and related emissions.

Building 
management

Obligation to always propose hybrid meeting options for visitors: -25%/-50% of the 
remaining physical travels. 

68

6%

Building insulation: -9%/-18%, heating management optimisation: -9%/-27%

Office space reduction: -30%/-40%

Source: 

 Ramboll, CO2Logic, 2022.

45

Environmental statement 2023Annex 2 

Environmental management  

programme 2024

Table A 2.1 

 Environmental management programme for the year 2024

Environmental 
aspect

Source of 
impact 

Action plan

Responsible for 
implementation

Performance 
indicator 2024

Target 2023

Target 2024

1. Energy 
consumption

Total direct 
energy 
consumption 
(total electricity 
and heating)

Raise awareness 
and promote energy 
efficiency and 
renewable energy 
solutions

COM,  
EMAS team

Total renewable 
energy 
consumption 
(total electricity)

‘Staff-related’ 
use of electricity 
in offices and 
meeting rooms 
(personal 
computers, 
printers, copy 
machines, lights, 
etc.)

Printing 
documents and 
emails

2. Paper 
consumption

Promote paperless 
office and 
maintaining reduced 
printing habits 

EMAS team

ADS

Continue 
digitalisation of 
administrative 
workflows (e.g. 
implementation of 
SYSPER)

1,424,865 
kWh

1,263,506 
kWh

100%

100%

1,657  
kWh/FTE

1,278  
kWh/FTE

508,228  
A4 sheets

193,489  
A4 sheets

2,372  
A4 sheets/
FTE

799  
A4 sheets/FTE

Zero-growth in 
total direct energy 
consumption 
for 2023 (based 
on the 3-year 
rolling average for 
2021-2023)

Continue to use 
100% renewable 
electricity.

Zero-growth in staff-
related electricity 
consumption per 
FTE for 2023 (based 
on the 3-year 
rolling average for 
2021-2023)

Zero growth in 
A4 sheets printed 
(based on the 
3-year rolling 
average for 
2021-2023)

Zero growth in 
A4 sheets printed 
per FTE (based 
on the 3-year 
rolling average for 
2021-2023)

Printing 
publications 
externally

Continue to apply to 
the EEA’s ‘zero-print 
publication policy’

COM

Zero printing of EEA 
publications

0 A4 pages

0 A4 pages

3. Water

Water 
consumption 
(canteen, staff 
kitchens/ 
kitchenettes, 
coffee areas, 
toilets and 
showers)

Raise awareness 
and promote 
resource-efficient 
water consumption

EMAS team, 
HoGs

1,501 m3

1,726 m3

6.8 m3/FTE

7 m3/FTE

Zero growth in 
water consumption 
(based on the 
3-year rolling 
average for 
2021-2023)

Zero growth in 
water consumption 
per FTE (based 
on the 3-year 
rolling average for 
2021-2023)

Water use in the 
canteen

Promote resource 
efficient water 
consumption in the 
canteen

EMAS team, ADS Zero growth in 
canteen water 
consumption 
(based on 3-year 
average for 
2021-2023)

490 m3

46

Environmental statement 2023 
 
 
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annex 2

Table A 2.1 

 Environmental management programme for the year 2024 (cont.)

Environmental 
aspect

Source of 
impact 

Action plan

Responsible for 
implementation

Performance 
indicator 2024

Target 2023

Target 2024

4. Waste 
generation

Waste reduction, 
sorting  and 
recycling 

Raise awareness of 
avoiding, sorting and 
recycling waste

EMAS team, ADS Zero growth in 

36,658 kg

36,052 kg

5. Greenhouse 
gas emissions

Carbon footprint 
of the EEA 
including scope 
1, 2 and 3 of 
the Greenhouse 
Gas Protocol 
methodology, 
in particular 
staff business 
travel, external 
participants 
coming to 
EEA-organised 
meetings

Provision of a ‘Green 
IT policy’

DIS

EMAS team, 
staff 

HoGs, all staff

EMAS team, 
HoGs

CNS

HoGs, all staff

HoGs

Identification and 
elaboration of an 
operational set of 
measures to move 
towards the EEA’s 
climate neutrality 
ambition.

Continue to replace 
staff travel with 
blended meetings and 
videoconferencing to 
a large extent

Raise awareness and 
promote continuation 
of reduced staff travel 
practices

Development of ‘EEA 
stakeholder meeting 
guidance’

Continue to replace 
meetings on EEA 
premises by blended 
meetings and 
videoconferencing to 
a large extent

Promote continuation 
of reduced travel 
practices among 
external participants 
of EEA-organised 
meetings

total generation 
of waste (based 
on the 3-year 
rolling average for 
2021-2023)

Zero growth in 
total waste per 
FTE (based on 
the 3-year rolling 
average for 2021-
2023)

‘Green IT policy’ 
provided

CO2e target for 
2023 according to 
the ‘high-ambition 
level scenario’ 
trajectory towards 
climate neutrality by 
2030

‘EEA stakeholder 
meeting guidance’ 
provided

167 kg/FTE

151 kg/FTE

Endorsed

Set of 
measures 
developed 

676 tCO2e

676 tCO2e 

n.a.

Set of 
measures 
developed 

47

Environmental statement 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annex 2

Table A 2.1 

 Environmental management programme for the year 2024 (cont.)

Environmental 
aspect

Source of 
impact 

Action plan

Responsible for 
implementation

Performance 
indicator 2024

Target 2023

Target 2024

All procurement

6. Various 
negative 
environmental 
impacts of the 
EEA

ADS

ADS, all staff

Raise awareness 
of the appropriate 
implementation of 
green procurement

Calls for tender for 
relevant services 
must include 
environmental criteria 
according to the type 
of goods purchased 

Provision of 
information on 
green procurement 
for staff

100% of 
procurement 
aligned with EU 
directives

100% of purchases 
are carried 
out against 
best available 
environmental 
criteria

n.a.

n.a.

100%

100%

100%

100%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

EMAS team, 
COM

Communication 
plan developed

Active participation 
in the EUAN, 
greening network 
and GIME..

EMAS team, ADS

Green internal 
and external 
communication/
awareness-
raising activities

7. Various 
positive 
environmental 
impacts 
of EEA 
awareness 
raising

9. Internal 
environment

Environment in 
buildings, health 
and safety 
aspects

Develop and 
implement 
an integrated 
approach to internal 
and external 
communication 
(communication plan)

Initiate and 
contribute to 
knowledge-exchange 
activities in the EUAN, 
the EU Agencies’ 
Greening subnetwork, 
GIME and EPA. 

Provide information 
on how to maximise 
environmental 
co-benefits in the 
renovation of the 
office space in KN6 
and the ‘new way of 
working’.

n.a.

n.a.

EMAS team

Active participation 
in the cross-agency 
working group on 
the renovation of 
the office space in 
KN6 and the new 
way of working

Notes:  

  Main changes are indicated in orange.  
ADS, EEA Administrative Services; CNS, EEA Coordination, Network and Strategy;  
COM, EEA Communication; DIS, EEA Data and Information Services;  
EUAN, EU Agencies Network; GIME, Group on Environmental Management;  
EPA, Head of Environment Protection Agency network; HoGs, Heads of group;  
n.a., not applicable.

48

Environmental statement 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annex 3 

Validation statement

49

Environmental statement 2023Annex 4	

EMAS	certificate

Certifikat for EMAS-registrering 
Certificate of EMAS-Registration 

European Environment Agency 

Kongens Nytorv 6 
DK-1050-København K  

Registreringsnummer 
Registration Number 
DK-000244 

Registreret første gang 
Date of first registration 
05-04-2005 

Certifikatet er gyldigt indtil 
This certificate is valid until 
01-09-2025 

Udstedelsesdato 
Date of issue 
11-10-2024 

Denne organisation har indført et miljøledelsessystem, og udarbejdet en miljøredegørelse i 
henhold til forordning (EF) nr. 1221/2009 med det formål at fremme en løbende forbedring af 
organisationens miljøindsats og resultater, og informere offentligheden herom. Miljøledelses-
systemet og miljøredegørelsen er verificeret af en uafhængig tredjepart. 

This organisation has established an environmental management system and prepared an environmental state-
ment according to Regulation (EC) No. 1221/2009 to promote the continual improvement of environmental per-
formance and to inform the public hereof. The environmental management system and the environmental state-
ment are verified by an independent third party. 

Søren Mørch Andersen 
EMAS Koordinator 
EMAS Coordinator 

50

Environmental statement 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Abbreviations

AIB

ADS

CAAR

CNS

COM

DIS

EC

EEA

EECS

EGD

Eionet

EMAS

EMS

EPA

EU

EUAN

FTE

GHG

GIME

HoGs

ICT

IT

KN6

KN8

MFD

RECS

SDGs

Association of Issuing Bodies

Administrative Services

EEA’s consolidated annual activity report

Coordination, Network and Strategy

Communication

Data and Information Services 

European Community

European Environment Agency

European Energy Certificate System

European Green Deal

European Environment Information and Observation Network

EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme

Environmental management system

Environmental Protection Agency 

European Union

EU Agencies Network

Full-time equivalent

Greenhouse gas 

EU inter-institutional group on Environmental Management

Heads of group

Information and communications technology

Information technology

Kongens Nytorv 6

Kongens Nytorv 8

Multifunctional device

Renewable Energy Certificate System

Sustainable Development Goals

51

Environmental statement 2023References

AIB, 2021, ‘EECS’, Association of Issuing Bodies (https://www.aib-net.org/eecs).

Copenhagen Municipality, 2021, ‘The CPH 2025 climate plan’ (The CPH 2025 Climate 
Plan | Urban Development (kk.dk))

Copenhagen Municipality, 2023, Climate Plan 2035 (Climate Plan 2035 | Urban 
Development (kk.dk))

EEA, 2024, European Environment Agency Single Programming Document 2024-
2026, adopted by the EEA’s Management Board by written procedure on 24 January 
2024 (Single programming document 2024-2026 — European Environment Agency 
(europa.eu)

EEA, 2024, EEA environmental management handbook, European Environment 
Agency, internal use/unpublished

European Commission, 2021, ‘A European Green Deal’ (https://ec.europa.eu/info/
strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en)

European Commission, 2024, ‘EMAS – Environment’ (https://ec.europa.eu/
environment/emas/index_en.htm)

HOFOR, ‘District heating’ (https://www.hofor.dk/privat/fjernvarme) 

Ramboll, CO2Logic, 2022, ‘Towards a climate neutral EEA’, final report for the 
European Environment Agency (EEA), internal use/unpublished

52

Environmental statement 2023European Environment Agency

Environmental statement 2023 
2024 — 52 pp. — 21 x 29.7 cm

ISBN: 978-92-9480-679-6 
doi:10.2800/7636500

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TH-01-24-003-EN-N
doi:10.2800/7636500