New research is now showing that this key carbon sink is weakening, and the decline is accelerating. A recent study published in Nature, led by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, shows the increasing threat to Europe’s forest carbon sink and highlights the steps needed to improve forest management and enhance monitoring systems. The findings create substantial implications for the EU’s climate goals, including its 2050 target for climate neutrality. According to the latest data from the European Environmental Agency (EEA), Europe’s forests absorbed about 27% less carbon dioxide between 2020 and 2022 compared to the previous decade. The 2025 greenhouse gas inventory suggests the downward trend is continuing at a faster pace. Several factors are creating this decline. Logging activity has increased, reducing tree cover and long-term carbon storage. Meanwhile, climate change is intensifying weather extremes, such as heatwaves and droughts, which slow down tree growth.