EU economy's greenhouse gas emissions increase by 2.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2024
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According to the latest Eurostat data, the European Union economy emitted 897 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in CO₂ equivalent in the fourth quarter of 2024 - 2.2% more than in the same period a year earlier (878 million tonnes). This growth occurred against a background of moderate GDP growth, which increased by 1.5 per cent year-on-year.
The data are based on quarterly estimates of greenhouse gas emissions by economic activity and complement macroeconomic statistics such as GDP and employment. In contrast to the UN methodology, Eurostat also includes international transport flows in the national emission volumes according to the SEEA (System of Environmental-Economic Accounting).
The largest increase was recorded:
- households: +5.2%,
- the sector of production and supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning: +4.6%.
These two sectors are the key drivers of overall issuance growth at the end of 2024.
Despite the overall increase, six EU countries were able to reduce emissions, including:
- Estonia (-11.3 per cent),
- Finland (-6.1 per cent),
- Sweden (-2.3 per cent).
It is particularly notable that four of these countries (including Luxembourg) have reduced emissions while showing economic growth, suggesting that the principle of "decoupling growth from pollution" may have been successfully realised.
This data becomes particularly significant against the backdrop of the EU's climate targets:
- -55% of emissions by 2030,
- climate neutrality by 2050.
EU emissions reports are sent to the UN annually, covering the period since 1990 and are subject to strict verification by the European Environment Agency.
Despite emission reductions in a number of countries, the overall increase in EU emissions over the end of 2024 points to continuing difficulties in meeting climate targets. The main challenge is to reduce household and energy emissions without hampering economic growth.
