The EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions have now fallen by 40% since 1990, according to official data.
The latest statistics, which show a 3% fall between 2023 and 2024, underline a continued trend of declining emissions largely 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 a briefing from the European Environment Agency, almost all member states have contributed to the emission reductions. The most significant players were primarily from the Eastern side of the continent – former Soviet Union countries that have transitioned from carbon-heavy industrial economies after 1990. Estonia has seen a roughly 72% reduction since 1990, followed by Lithuania (62%) and Latvia (61%).
The largest absolute cuts occurred in electricity and heat production, manufacturing and construction, residential combustion, and iron and steel.
Less positively, there have been increases in road transport...