#119 Leena Ylä-Mononen: What the 2026 Summer Heatwaves Mean for Europe’s Sustainability Transition

What do the recurring heatwaves, floods and fires in Europe this summer tell us about the state of sustainability progress in the EU?

In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Leena Ylä-Mononen, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, an EU body that works to inform decision-makers and the public about the state of Europe’s environment, climate change and wider sustainability issues.

Together they discussed the EEA’s recent reports on national climate risk assessments, as well as how well Europe is currently doing on climate adaptation. You’ll also hear about: 

• The verdict on how much progress the EU is making on transitioning to a circular economy, with the Circular Economy Act expected from the European Commission in November

• Whether Europe will be able to get sovereignty on AI whilst also reaching its environmental objectives

• The EEA’s perspective on the wider role of businesses in Europe’s sustainability transition, alongside national-level initiatives and individual action

• Why competitiveness is also about citizens’ health, ensuring that we have a healthy workforce alongside a healthy planet

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