The European Union’s greenhouse gas emissions fell a further 3% between 2023 and 2024, bringing the EU’s total emission reductions to 40% below 1990 levels, according to official EU data sent to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and a European Environment Agency (EEA) analysis. The EU greenhouse gas inventory was prepared and submitted to the UN body by the EEA on behalf of the EU on 15 April.
Over the last 34 years, the overall decline in EU’s net domestic emissions was driven by a larger share of renewable energy, the use of less carbon intensive fossil fuels, improved energy efficiency, and structural economic changes, according to an EEA briefing analysing the emissions data. Almost all Member States have contributed to the emission reductions.
The largest absolute cuts occurred in electricity and heat production, manufacturing and construction, residential combustion, and iron & steel (including energy-related emissions).
Road transport emissions rose for both passenger and freight modes despite more efficient and electric vehicles, as growth in transport demand outpaced those gains.
Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions from refrigeration and air conditioning surged from 1990 to 2014 but have declined for ten consecutive years, owing to EU F gas phase down and recent phase out measures.
Forest net removals of carbon have weakened mainly due to aging forests (lower annual increment), increased harvesting and climate impacts.