Positive trends were recorded last year in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), with greenhouse gas emissions from the 11,000 facilities covered by the scheme falling by 8.7% and aviation emissions rising by significantly less than in previous years.
The 2019 annual report published by the European Commission on Monday 4 May shows a 9% drop in verified emissions from permanent facilities (power stations and industrial plants) and an increase of only around 1% in emissions from airlines.
This was in the context of a growing European economy (+1.5% for EU28 GDP) and before the Covid-19 crisis.
All operators were required to report their verified emissions for 2019 by 31 March 2020 and to surrender enough allowances to cover these emissions by 30 April 2020.
In 2019, emissions from permanent facilities came to 1,527 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, a decrease of 9%.
The largest reduction was achieved in the electricity-generating industry, with a 15% drop in emissions reflecting the shift from coal and lignite to renewable energy sources and gas.
Industrial emissions fell by 2%. These reductions were seen in most sectors, including iron and steel production, cement, chemicals and refineries.
Verified emissions reported by 500 EU and non-Member State aircraft operators flying within the European Economic Area came to 68.14 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (compared to 67.49 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2018). 99% of the operators complied with the ETS directive.
Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President responsible for the Green Deal, says he is “encouraged” by the data.
The revised ETS rules, which were adopted in 2018, will apply from January 2021.
To consult the 2019 data, go to: https://bit.ly/2yuunKg (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)