Key information
- Total EU greenhouse gas emissions fell by 7 percent in 2023, reaching 3.4 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
- Across most economic sectors, producers reduced their greenhouse gas emissions between 2013 and 2023, with the electricity sector seeing a 43 percent decline.
- Households also contributed to the reduction, with a 14 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, or 110 million tonnes of CO2.
The European Union’s total greenhouse gas emissions from economic activities and households reached 3.4 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2023. This figure represents a decrease of 7 percent compared to 2022 and an impressive reduction of 18 percent since 2013. This is what Eurostat reports.
In most economic sectors, producers managed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions between 2013 and 2023. The electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply sector recorded the largest decline. more significant, with a reduction of 43 percent (equivalent to 448 million tonnes of CO2). Other notable double-digit reductions were seen in the mining and quarrying (-25 percent), services (-20 percent) and manufacturing (-17 percent) sectors. However, the transport and storage sector saw a 14 percent increase in emissions compared to 2013.
Reduction of household emissions
Households also contributed to the overall reduction, with a 14 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions (equivalent to 110 million tonnes of CO2).
The EU’s greenhouse gas emissions intensity, measured as emissions per unit of gross value added, fell by 32 percent between 2013 and 2023. This indicates a decoupling between economic growth and emissions, l The EU economy simultaneously increases its added value by 19 percent. Estonia was the first to reduce its emissions intensity (-61 percent), followed by Ireland (-50 percent) and Slovenia (-41 percent). Austria, Lithuania and Luxembourg saw moderate reductions, while Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Denmark saw declines of between -30 percent and -25 percent. hundred.
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