Indicator Specification
Greenhouse gas emissions from energy use in buildings in Europe
Rationale
Justification for indicator selection
No rationale has been identified for this indicator.
Scientific references
- No rationale references available
Indicator definition
This indicator presents past and latest year estimates and projected emissions trends for energy used in the residential and commercial sector in the European Union. Historical data include emissions from the use of fossil fuel in buildings (also called direct emissions) and emissions from the use of electricity (also called indirect emissions); the latter come from the emissions resulting from the production of electricity subsequently used in buildings. Emissions from the construction, renovation or demolition of buildings are not covered by this indicator.
Units
In this indicator, GHG emissions are expressed in 'million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent' (Mt CO2e).
Policy context and targets
Context description
Climate change is one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats and the warming of the climate system is unequivocal according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In order to prevent the most severe impacts of climate change, countries that have signed up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) agreed to cooperate with a view to limiting the increase in global average temperature and the resulting climate change.
The buildings sector is one of the major emitters of GHGs in Europe. The overall 2030 EU target for a decrease in CO2 emissions and the long-term 2050 climate neutrality objective cannot be achieved if emissions from buildings are not addressed quickly and deeply. GHG emissions from buildings is therefore a key priority for EU climate policy. This sector is also a key priority in other regions of the world and therefore at global level in general.
The indicator is directly responsive to changes in related human activities, such as actions related to energy performance in buildings, energy labelling and the eco-design of products, as well as actions to decarbonise the electricity sector.
Targets
No targets have been specified
Related policy documents
No related policy documents have been specified
Key policy question
Greenhouse gas emissions from energy use in buildings in Europe, aggregated assessment level
Specific policy question
Greenhouse gas emissions from energy use in buildings in Europe, disaggregated assessment level
Methodology
Methodology for indicator calculation
Emissions from fossil fuels used in buildings (direct emissions):
This indicator is based on the official GHG inventories submitted by EEA member countries to the EEA, as well as on the projected GHG emissions submitted by EU Member States under the Governance Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.
Greenhouse gas inventories
For the preparation of their national inventories, countries use the methodologies of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Residential and tertiary buildings are included (sector 1A4a and 1A4b of the IPCC classification).
Projected greenhouse gas emissions
For projected GHG emissions, information submitted by EEA member countries under the Governance Regulation is used. The projected GHG emissions referred to in the indicator are those reported under the 'with existing measures' scenario (WEM) and the 'with additional measures' scenario (WAM).
The projected greenhouse gas emissions include data for the entire IPCC sector 1.A.4, which includes emissions from buildings (IPCC sector 1.A.4.a and 1.A.4.b) as well as from energy use in agriculture and forests (IPCC sector 1.A.4.c).
To improve comparability with past data, an adjustment factor has been applied to the projections submitted by the countries to exclude IPCC sector 1.A.4.c from the data provided. The correction factor applied is 14.7%, which is the share of the sector 1.A.4.c in the total emissions of sector 1.A.4.
Approximated greenhouse gas inventory
This indicator also uses data and estimates from the 'Approximated GHG inventory' for the year (X—1). These 'proxy' inventories are reported by Member States to the EEA and to the Commission under the Governance Regulation by 31 July of each year, X, and are calculated at an aggregate level on the basis of the national and international information available for the year (X—1).
Proxy estimates are provided by Member States only for the entire IPCC sector 1.A.4. To estimate the value of the sub sectors 1.A.4.a and 1.A.4.b only, the percentage change (X—1) to (X—2) of the entire 1.A.4 sector is applied to the (X—1) emissions of sectors 1.A.4.a and 1.A.4.b only.
Emissions from electricity use in buildings (indirect emissions)
Indirect emissions from electricity, heat and combined heat and power in residential, commercial and institutional buildings include the part of emissions from electricity and heat production (IPCC sector 1.A.1.a) that are allocated to buildings (IPCC sectors 1.A.4.a and 1.A.4.b) according to the end-user methodology developed by the EEA.
Methodology for gap filling
No methodology for gap filling has been specified. Probably this info has been added together with indicator calculation.
Methodology references
No methodology references available.
Data specifications
EEA data references
- National emissions reported to the UNFCCC and to the EU Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism provided by European Environment Agency (EEA)
- Member States' greenhouse gas (GHG) emission projections provided by European Environment Agency (EEA)
- Approximated estimates for greenhouse gas emissions provided by European Commission , European Environment Agency (EEA)
Data sources in latest figures
Uncertainties
Methodology uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified
Data sets uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified
Rationale uncertainty
No uncertainty has been specified
Further work
Short term work
Work specified here requires to be completed within 1 year from now.
Long term work
Work specified here will require more than 1 year (from now) to be completed.
General metadata
Responsibility and ownership
EEA Contact Info
Stephane QuefelecOwnership
Identification
Frequency of updates
Classification
DPSIR: PressureTypology: Efficiency indicator (Type C - Are we improving?)
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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-energy or scan the QR code.
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