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The indicator shows the trend in total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding those from the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector. For comparison, two index lines (1990 value = 100) are included: the first refers to country specific emissions, while the second expresses total EU emissions.
The majority of GHG emissions in Greece throughout the 34-year period 1990–2023 stem from the energy sector. Thus, the persistent downward trend of emissions for almost all of 2008–2020 (excluding 2017) is attributed to the gradual reform of the Greek energy system: increasing the share of renewable energy sources (RESs) and natural gas, and phasing out all lignite-fired power plants, combined with energy efficiency improvement measures. Moreover, the economic recession at the beginning of this period and the COVID-19 restrictions in transport sector also contributed to this decrease. A small increase in GHG emissions evident in 2021–2023 is ascribed to the removal of COVID-19 confinement measures.
According to the revised national energy and climate plan (NECP), the country’s emissions reduction target (55% reduction relative to 1990 emissions levels) will be achieved by 2030, at around 51%, excluding the LULUCF sector. Other CO2 removals such as those from LULUCF can reduce GHG emissions up to 58% by 2030.
References and footnotes
- ↵Ministry of the Environment and Energy, National inventory report of Greece for greenhouse and other gases for the years 1990–2022, Athens, 2024, https://ypen.gov.gr/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024_NIR_Greece.pdf.
- ↵Ministry of Environment and Energy, National Energy and Climate Plan – Revised edition, https://commission.europa.eu/publications/greece-final-updated-necp-2021-2030-submitted-2025_en.