EU Reports 8.3% Drop in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The European Union has announced an 8.3% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the past year, a significant achievement that contrasts sharply with a global trend of rising emissions. Despite this progress, the bloc is not on track to meet its ambitious climate goals set for 2030.

Climate Action and Economic Growth
EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra seized on this data to argue that effective climate action can coexist with economic growth. As the EU prepares for the upcoming UN climate summit COP29 in Azerbaijan, he emphasized the bloc’s role as a leader in climate initiatives. “As we head off soon to COP29, we once again demonstrate to our international partners that it is possible to take climate action and invest in growing our economy at the same time,” Hoekstra stated during the release of the annual EU Climate Action Progress Report for 2024.

Current Emission Levels and Future Goals
The report reveals that while emissions are currently 37% lower than the baseline year of 1990, the EU is still far from its 2030 target of achieving a net reduction of at least 55%. Preliminary data suggests that the EU’s carbon footprint now constitutes just 6% of the global total, which reached a record 53 billion tonnes in the past year—a figure that represents a concerning increase of 1.9% compared to 2022.

Sector-Specific Emission Trends
The decline in emissions varies significantly across different sectors. The energy and industrial sectors, which are regulated under the EU emissions trading scheme, have experienced a remarkable 47% reduction in CO2 equivalent output since the scheme began in 2005. However, other sectors, including buildings, agriculture, domestic transport, small industry, and waste management, have only seen a modest 2% decrease in emissions in 2023. Alarmingly, the aviation sector has reported a 9.5% increase in emissions year-on-year, highlighting the need for targeted action in this area.

Renewable Energy and Coal Decline
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has attributed the recent drop in emissions primarily to a significant decline in coal consumption, alongside a steady increase in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Additionally, a general decrease in energy demand has played a crucial role in this positive trend. Despite these gains, the EEA warned that existing climate measures are projected to lead to only a 43% reduction by 2030. Even with additional measures planned by 22 member states, projections suggest that overall emissions reductions would only reach 49%.

Need for Comprehensive Action
Leena Ylä-Mononen, executive director of the EEA, underscored the urgency of implementing comprehensive action across all sectors to achieve the EU’s legally binding goal of net-zero emissions. “As our recent European climate risk assessment revealed, the impact of climate change is accelerating,” Ylä-Mononen said.
“This leaves us no choice but to strengthen our resilience to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” The report serves as a call to action for EU governments to enhance their commitment to climate policies and take meaningful steps towards a sustainable future.