Press room

Greenhouse gas emission trends (CSI 010) - Assessment published Mar 2009: According to first estimates by EEA for the year 2010, EU-27 greenhouse gas emissions increased by 2.4 % compared to 2009 (with a margin of error of +/- 0.3 %). This was due to the return to economic growth in many countries and a colder winter leading to an increased heating demand. However, the increase in emissions was contained by a move from coal to natural gas and the sustained strong growth in renewable energy generation. EU‑27 emissions were 15.5 % below the 1990 level. This 2010 increase follows a 7 % drop in 2009 (compared to 2008), largely due to the economic recession and the growth of renewable energy generation. Between 1990 and 2010, greenhouse gas emissions in the EU-27 decreased in all main emitting sectors except in the transport sector, where they increased considerably. In the EU-15, CO 2 emissions from public electricity and heat production also increased. In the EU-15, estimated 2010 GHG emissions increased by 2.3 % (+/– 0.7) compared to 2009. This implies that EU‑15 greenhouse gas emissions were approximately 10.6 % below the 1990 level in 2010 (1) or 10.7 % below the base-year level. The European Union remains well on track to achieve its Kyoto Protocol target (an 8% reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions compared to base-year level, to be achieved during the period from 2008 to 2012). 2010 emissions of all EU-12 Member States that have a Kyoto target were well below their Kyoto target, except in Slovenia. A detailed assessment of progress towards Kyoto targets and 2020 targets in Europe is provided in EEA's 2011 report on Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections .
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Greenhouse gas emission trends
Transport emissions of greenhouse gases (TERM 002) - Assessment published Sep 2010: In the EEA member countries, emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from transport (excluding international air and maritime transport) increased by 28 % between 1990 and 2007. The 15 old EU Member States make up 81 % of the total EEA area transport emissions and they increased by 26 % in the same period. In the 4 EFTA countries the emissions increased by 25 % while in the 12 new EU Member States the increase was 46 %. In the Candidate Countries (CC-1) the emissions increased by 97 %. For several of the 15 old EU Member States and EFTA countries, rapidly rising GHG emissions from transport are a serious concern for meeting the Kyoto target. In the 15 old EU Member States, domestic aviation was the fastest growing transport mode, while rail transport was the fastest decreasing one. Also GHG emissions from international aviation and navigation are increasing rapidly, but these emissions are, in accordance with UNFCCC guidelines, not included in the GHG emission totals relevant for the Kyoto targets. In the 15 old EU Member States, the transport sector was responsible for 21 % of the total GHG emissions in 2007, while in the 12 new EU Member States the transport sector contributed only by 12 % to the total GHG emissions.
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Transport emissions of greenhouse gases
Energy and non-energy related greenhouse gas emissions (ENER 001) - Assessment published Aug 2011: EU emissions of greenhouse gases (Kyoto gases) declined for the third consecutive year in 2008. The combination of high coal and carbon prices accompanied by a drop in natural gas prices in 2008 induced heat and electricity producers to replace more polluting coal by gas and as a result, reduce their GHG emissions. The use of biomass and other renewable sources (wind and hydroelectric power) has also increased significantly in 2008, attributing further to the reduction in GHG emissions. The economic recession, which started during the second half of the 2008, also contributed to emission reductions from several sectors including the manufacturing and construction, and road transport sectors. Road transport emissions were also affected by high oil prices, the continued decline in gasoline consumption and a reversal of the upward trend in diesel sales. Total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU-27 were 11.3 % below 1990 in 2008 — a net reduction of 627 million tonnes of CO 2 eq., of which 99 million took place in 2008 [1] . In 2008, the EU-15 stood 6.9% below its Kyoto Protocol base year levels. Preliminary EEA estimates suggest emissions in the EU fell further in 2009 due to lower the economic downturn and CO 2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in the energy, industry and transport sectors. [1] http://www.eea.europa.eu/pressroom/newsreleases/why-did-greenhouse-gas-emissions
Located in Data and maps › Indicators › Energy and non-energy related greenhouse gas emissions
Projections of EU-15 and EU-27 emissions during the Kyoto commitment period: Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Expert interview: transport and environment: Peder Jensen, EEA transport and the environment expert. Transport is harmful to the environment in many different ways. The most visible effect of transport is some of the emissions that we see: we can see the exhaust gas coming out of a car and at certain times it's very dirty and very dark. It's a very visible way where it's harming the environment, harming the air that we are all breathing. But there are also effects that are not quite so visible - when we are burning fuel in our engines we are emitting a lot of different gases and some of them are invisible greenhouse gases that help trap the heat in the atmosphere to get the earth to go warmer. One of the other important effects of transport is the noise impact. Noise means that people have a hard time sleeping, that they therefore don't get the rest that they need. It also affects the animals, disturbs their life, if roads or railroads run through nature areas it therefore means a reduced quality of life for both animals and people. Finally, transport infrastructure has a tendency to fragment natural habitats for animals. Lots of animals are disturbed by roads, they cannot cross the road, they are either scared off by the noise or they can't find ways to cross these different infrastructures and this means that the habitats they are living in don't work so well for their reproduction.
Located in Environmental topics › Transport › Multimedia
Decomposition of current progress achieved by European countries towards their Kyoto targets by the end of 2010: A positive sign signifies a favourable contribution towards target achievement.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Actual progress of the EU‑15 towards its burden-sharing target in absolute and relative terms: The X-axis (0 % line) corresponds to the achievement of the EU-15 reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol (– 8 % compared to base-year emissions). Positive values correspond to contributions to the achievement of the EU-15 Kyoto target, while negative values represent shortfalls. The difference between target and GHG emissions concerns the sectors not covered by the EU ETS, which represent the right emissions and target to consider for the assessment of actual progress towards Kyoto targets.
Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Greenhouse gas emissions per capita of EU-25 Member States for 1990-2003: Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
Greenhouse gas emissions per capita for the acceding countries and other EEA countries: Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs
EU 15 and EU-27 CO2 emissions from manufacturing industries and construction compared with value added and energy consumption: Located in Data and maps › Maps and graphs