Greenhouse gas emissions from land use, land use change and forestry in Europe

The land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector plays a key role in achieving the EU’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050. In 2024, LULUCF activities removed net -231 million tonnes of CO₂equivalent (MtCO₂e) from the atmosphere. Removals are estimated to have increased to -256 MtCO₂e in 2025, equivalent to 8% of the EU’s gross GHG emissions. Based on Member States’ latest GHG historic and projections data, the EU is off track to meet the 2030 target, indicating a need for renewed efforts and further policies to enhance Europe’s natural carbon sink.

Figure 1. EU emissions and removals from the LULUCF sector by main land use category

In addition to rapid and substantial emission reductions in all sectors, the EU relies on increasing CO₂ removal from the atmosphere to achieve its climate targets. For 2030, the EU has set an EU-level target to increase net removals in LULUCF by -42 MtCO₂e compared to the average yearly net removal in the period 2016-2018. This target is distributed among Member States through national targets.

In 2024, the EU’s net land carbon sink grew from the year before, reaching -231 MtCO₂e. Removals are estimated to have further increased to -256 MtCO₂e in 2025, equivalent to 8% of the EU’s gross GHG emissions in that year (excluding LULUCF).

However, there remains a vast challenge ahead: current levels still indicate a significant gap of 67-92 MtCO₂e to the 2030 target, while the long-term trend remains one of declining net removals. In 2015-2024, the average net annual sink was 31% smaller compared to the decade before.

This reduction in carbon removals in the land sector has been largely driven by a reduced forest sink. While ageing forests are sequestering less carbon, harvest levels have increased. In parallel, the sink has experienced increasing effects from climate change and natural disturbances. Cropland and settlements remain the most important net GHG sources, largely resulting from the conversion of land to cropland and settlements, and the management of organic soils.

Natural disturbances are the main driver of interannual variability in LULUCF and affect the predictability of the sector’s removal capacity.

Collectively, Member States project a net LULUCF sink of -240 MtCO₂e by 2030 in the scenario with additional measures (WAM), indicating a significant gap to target.

Overall, data suggest additional action is needed to enhance net removals in LULUCF. Various options are available to do so, such as improved forest- and cropland management, afforestation, agroforestry, rewetting of peatlands, and increasing carbon storage in harvested wood products. These can offer many co-benefits, such as for biodiversity, water management, soil quality, and for increasing the resilience of bioeconomy value chains.

Figure 2. Member States′ net LULUCF performance in 2024 and national LULUCF targets

Among EU Member States, Austria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands and Portugal had net emissions from LULUCF in 2024, jointly totaling 83 MtCO₂e. Other Member States provided a net LULUCF sink of -314 MtCO₂e.

Comparing Member States' 2024 LULUCF status with their 2030 targets, 11 Member States report more net removals than the level required in their targets. In contrast, 12 Member States report fewer net removals in 2024 compared to the 2016-2018 reference period, indicating an increased distance from their 2030 targets. The six countries with the largest distance to their targets (Germany, Poland, Finland, Spain, Austria and Latvia) jointly represent a shortfall of 105 MtCO₂e.

Member States’ LULUCF projections under the scenario with additional measures (WAM) indicate that 14 countries still have a gap to their targets in 2030. Italy, Sweden, Spain, and France reported the highest net removals in 2024 but are jointly projecting a decline of their sink by 59 MtCO₂e between 2024 and 2030. However, while some countries' projections do not fully reflect the latest inventory data, these estimates should be interpreted with caution.

Supporting information

Definition

Land use categories:

• Forest land: land areas covered by forests and woody vegetation as defined by the national forest definition. Forest land areas can be temporarily without trees if harvest or storms occurred and if trees will re-grow on this land area.

• Cropland: cropped land including orchards, vineyards or agro-forestry systems if the woody vegetation falls below the thresholds of the national forest definition.

• Grassland: rangelands, pastures or grassland. Woody vegetation on grassland is included if the woody vegetation falls below the thresholds of the national forest definition.

• Wetlands: areas covered or saturated by water for all or part of the year such as peatlands or water reservoirs.

• Settlements: areas with human settlements or infrastructure.

• Other lands: bare soil, rock, ice and land that does not fall in the other categories above.

• Harvested Wood Products: Any product of wood harvesting that has left a site where wood is harvested — including paper, wood used for materials or energy.

CO₂equivalent (CO₂e):

There are three greenhouse gases relevant for the LULUCF sector: carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). CO₂equivalent is a common unit that allows these different gases to be added up based on their warming potential. Following the IPCC 5^th Assessment report and as agreed for the Paris Agreement, 1 tonne CH₄ = 28 tonne CO₂equivalent, 1 tonne N₂O = 265 tonne CO₂equivalent and 1 tonne CO₂ = 1 tonne CO₂equivalent.

Organic soils and mineral soils:

Organic soils are soils with a high carbon content while the rest is mineral soils. In the EU only 8% of the soils are organic soils according to the GHG inventories. Due to the higher carbon content, organic soils have generally higher emissions than mineral soils.

MethodologyPolicy/environmental relevance

This indicator is a headline indicator for monitoring progress towards the 8^th Environment Action Programme (8^th EAP). It contributes mainly to monitoring aspects of the 8^th EAP priority objective Article 2a. that shall be met by 2030: ‘swift and predictable reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and, at the same time, enhancement of removals by natural sinks in the Union to attain the 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target as laid down in , in line with the Union’s climate and environment objectives, whilst ensuring a just transition that leaves no one behind;’ (Decision (EU), 2022/591). For the purposes of the 8^th EAP monitoring framework (COM/2022/367), this indicator assesses specifically whether the EU will reach the EU target to increase net removals in LULUCF by -42Mt CO₂e compared to the average yearly net removal in the period 2016-2018. Based on data reported by Member States in 2020, this target was expected to result in total removals at EU level of -310 MtCO2e.

Accuracy and uncertaintiesData sources and providers

Metadata

References and footnotes

To enhance the accuracy of the GHG inventory data, Member States continuously improve their inventory methodologies. Such methodological improvements need to be reflected in the entire time-series to ensure consistency and comparability of the historical trend, hence all years are re-estimated. Based on data reported by Member States in 2020, the EU target of generating an additional -42 MtCO2e of net removals by 2030 was expected to result in total removals at EU level of -310 MtCO2e (LULUCF Regulation (EU) 2018/841; EEA Trends and Projections Report, Technical Background Paper, 2026)
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EU, 2018, Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework, and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 and Decision No 529/2013/EU, OJ L 156 19.6.2018, p. 1.

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EU, 2021, Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’), OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, p. 1-17., Regulation (EU) 2021/1119

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