2023 saw a reduction in the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 7% on 2022, representing a 18% reduction compared with 2013.
Over the decade to 2023, all economic activities across the EU – except for transportation and storage – reduced their greenhouse gas emissions. The exception mentioned saw emissions increase by around 14%.
The Kyoto Protocol covers seven greenhouse gases:
Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)Converting them to carbon dioxide (or CO2) equivalents makes it possible to compare them and to determine their individual and total contributions to global warming.
Across the various sectors, the percentage change in GHG emissions between 2013 and 2023 were:
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing -3.68%
- Mining and quarrying -25.41%
- Manufacturing -16.96%
- Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply -42.97%
- Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities -7.31%
- Construction -o.75%
- Transportation and storage +14.26%
- Services (except transportation and storage) -20.33%
In both Ireland and Latvia agricultural was the prime souse of GHG emissions. In eight countries manufacturing was the main emitter of greenhouse gases and in seven others this was electricity and gas supply.
In Denmark, Malta and Luxembourg emissions from transport and storage were responsible for more than half of the country’s emissions. Luxembourg suffered from high emissions from air transport, while Denmark was similarly affected by emissions from shipping.
Per capita, Luxembourg, Ireland and Denmark were the largest emitters of greenhouse gases 2023 in the EU while Sweden and Portugal the smallest.
The new figures also reveal greenhouse gas emissions intensity, which measures the amount of emissions per unit of gross value added in each economic activity. A decrease in the emissions intensity means fewer emissions for the same amount of economic value added.
In 2023 greenhouse gas emission intensity had decreased by 32% compared with 2013, meaning that the EU economy simultaneously increased its value added (by 19%) and reduced its greenhouse gas emissions. The best performing countries under this metric were Estonia (-61%), Ireland (-50%) and Slovenia (-41%).