In the first quarter of 2023, the European Union economy recorded a significant reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions. According to estimates provided by Eurostat on 16 August, total emissions amounted to 941 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, a fall of 2.9% compared with the same period in 2022. This reduction occurred at the same time as a 1.2% increase in the EU’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The sectoral analysis reveals that the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions were ‘households’ (24%), ‘manufacturing industry’ (20%) and the ‘electricity and gas supply’ sector (19%). ‘Agriculture’ (13%) and ‘transport and storage’ (10%) followed close behind. Compared with the first quarter of 2022, the biggest decline was recorded in ‘electricity and gas supply’, with a fall of 12.3%. The ‘transport and storage’ sector, meanwhile, saw its emissions rise by 7.2%.
Of the Member States, 21 have succeeded in reducing their emissions by the first quarter of 2023, with the exception of Ireland, Latvia, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Fifteen countries have managed to reduce their emissions while increasing their GDP, demonstrating the feasibility of economic growth in harmony with environmental objectives.
The data: https://aeur.eu/f/8bl (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)