The EU has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% since 1990 | Press releases
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 published today. 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.
Key trends and drivers
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.
Energy sector as the main driver of emission reductions
Electricity and heat production, residential and industrial sectors delivered the top three emission reductions.
Emissions from electricity and heat production fell 58% since 1990, reflecting efficiency gains and a shift to lower‑carbon fuels.
Between 1990 and 2024, thermal power station use of solid and liquid fuels fell 68% and 86% respectively, while natural gas use rose 44% (though emissions from gas fell nearly 18% since 2022). Coal consumption in 1990 was more than three times the 2024 level.
Renewables’ share in electricity and heat generation has grown substantially, and CO2 per unit of fossil energy produced has declined.
Large reductions in the residential sector are attributable to better building insulation, improved efficiency and warmer winters, which have lowered space‑heating demand.
Policy contribution
EU and Member State policies drove much of the decline: agricultural and environmental measures from the 1990s, and climate and energy policies since 2005. Notably, this includes the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and national measures for sectors outside the ETS.
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Please note: The net domestic emissions reflected by the greenhouse gas inventory do not include emissions from international aviation or navigation. They are therefore not immediately comparable with the scope of the European Climate Law emission reduction target for 2030 (net 55%), as the latter include a share of emissions from international aviation and navigation.
