Greenhouse gas emissions from energy use in buildings in Europe

Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

• 26 Oct 2021, 12:46 PM
  - 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

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