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Press Release
Emissions increased in 2010. This rebound effect was expected as most of Europe came out of recession. However, the increase could have been even higher without the fast expansion of renewable energy generation in the EU.
EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU-27) increased by 2.4 % (or 111 million tonnes CO2 equivalent) between 2009 and 2010. This can be partially explained by the fact that there was a sharp 7.3% (or -365 million tonnes) decrease of emissions between 2008 and 2009.
The EU remains fully on track to meet its Kyoto target. The long-term reduction trend continued, since EU-27 greenhouse gas emissions still remained 15.4 % below 1990 levels in 2010. Emissions in the 15 Member States with a common commitment under the Kyoto Protocol (EU-15) in 2010 were 11 % below the Kyoto Protocol base year. These consolidated figures confirm earlier estimates for the EU, published by the EEA in October 2011.
“Emissions increased in 2010. This rebound effect was expected as most of Europe came out of recession,” EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade said. “However, the increase could have been even higher without the fast expansion of renewable energy generation in the EU.”
Higher emissions were partly due to the economic recovery (GDP grew by 2 % in the EU in 2010), as many European countries emerged from the 2009 recession. Higher final energy demand (+3.7 % in 2010) also contributed to the emissions growth. Moreover, the winter in 2010 was colder than in the previous year, leading to higher heating demand.
However, GHG emissions growth was contained by several factors. As in previous years the growth in the use of renewable energy sources continued in 2010 with a 12.7% increase of total consumption of energy from renewable sources. In addition, gas prices fell markedly in 2010 and EU total consumption of gas used for energy purposes went up by 7.4%. The higher share of gas led to an improved carbon intensity of fossil fuel consumption in many Member States.
MEMBER |
1990 |
Kyoto Protocol |
2010 |
2009–2010 |
Change 2009–2010 |
Change 1990-2010 |
Change base year–2010 |
Targets 2008–12 under Kyoto Protocol and "EU burden sharing" |
(million |
(million tonnes) |
(million tonnes) |
(million tonnes) |
(%) |
(%) |
(%) |
(%) |
|
Austria |
78.2 |
79.0 |
84.6 |
4.9 |
6.1% |
8.2% |
7.0% |
-13.0% |
Belgium |
143.3 |
145.7 |
132.5 |
7.3 |
5.8% |
-7.6% |
-9.1% |
-7.5% |
Denmark |
68.6 |
69.3 |
61.1 |
0.4 |
0.6% |
-11.0% |
-11.9% |
-21.0% |
Finland |
70.4 |
71.0 |
74.6 |
8.4 |
12.8% |
6.0% |
5.0% |
0.0% |
France |
559.0 |
563.9 |
522.4 |
7.8 |
1.5% |
-6.6% |
-7.4% |
0.0% |
Germany |
1246.1 |
1232.4 |
936.5 |
24.7 |
2.7% |
-24.8% |
-24.0% |
-21.0% |
Greece |
105.0 |
107.0 |
118.3 |
-6.4 |
-5.1% |
12.6% |
10.6% |
25.0% |
Ireland |
55.2 |
55.6 |
61.3 |
-0.4 |
-0.7% |
11.2% |
10.3% |
13.0% |
Italy |
519.2 |
516.9 |
501.3 |
9.8 |
2.0% |
-3.5% |
-3.0% |
-6.5% |
Luxembourg |
12.8 |
13.2 |
12.1 |
0.56 |
4.9% |
-5.9% |
-8.3% |
-28.0% |
Netherlands |
212.0 |
213.0 |
210.1 |
11.1 |
5.6% |
-0.9% |
-1.4% |
-6.0% |
Portugal |
60.1 |
60.1 |
70.6 |
-3.8 |
-5.1% |
17.5% |
17.4% |
27.0% |
Spain |
282.8 |
289.8 |
355.9 |
-10.4 |
-2.8% |
25.8% |
22.8% |
15.0% |
Sweden |
72.8 |
72.2 |
66.2 |
6.6 |
11.0% |
-9.0% |
-8.2% |
4.0% |
United |
763.9 |
776.3 |
590.2 |
17.9 |
3.1% |
-22.7% |
-24.0% |
-12.5% |
EU-15 |
4249.3 |
4265.5 |
3797.6 |
78.5 |
2.1% |
-10.6% |
-11.0% |
-8.0% |
Bulgaria |
114.3 |
132.6 |
61.4 |
2.5 |
4.3% |
-46.3% |
-53.7% |
-8.0% |
Cyprus |
6.5 |
Not |
10.8 |
-0.3 |
-2.4% |
67.6% |
Not |
Not |
Czech |
195.8 |
194.2 |
139.2 |
4.4 |
3.3% |
-28.9% |
-28.4% |
-8.0% |
Estonia |
40.9 |
42.6 |
20.5 |
4.1 |
25.2% |
-49.8% |
-51.9% |
-8.0% |
Hungary |
97.3 |
115.4 |
67.7 |
0.8 |
1.2% |
-30.4% |
-41.4% |
-6.0% |
Latvia |
26.6 |
25.9 |
12.1 |
1.1 |
10.2% |
-54.5% |
-53.4% |
-8.0% |
Lithuania |
49.4 |
49.4 |
20.8 |
0.9 |
4.3% |
-57.9% |
-57.9% |
-8.0% |
Malta |
2.0 |
Not |
3.0 |
0.02 |
0.6% |
49.1% |
Not |
Not |
Poland |
457.4 |
563.4 |
400.9 |
19.1 |
5.0% |
-12.4% |
-28.9% |
-6.0% |
Romania |
253.3 |
278.2 |
121.4 |
-2.0 |
-1.6% |
-52.1% |
-56.4% |
-8.0% |
Slovakia |
71.8 |
72.1 |
46.0 |
1.8 |
4.1% |
-35.9% |
-36.2% |
-8.0% |
Slovenia |
18.5 |
20.4 |
19.5 |
0.1 |
0.3% |
5.7% |
-4.1% |
-8.0% |
EU-27 |
5583.1 |
Not |
4720.9 |
111.0 |
2.4% |
-15.4% |
Not |
Not |
*Following the UNFCCC reviews of Member States' 'initial reports' during 2007 and 2008 and pursuant to Article 3, paragraphs 7 and 8 of the Kyoto Protocol, the base-year emissions for the EU-15 have been fixed at 4 265.5 Mt CO2-equivalents.
The most recent data available for the EU GHG inventory is for 2010. Verified 2011 emissions from the EU ETS point to a 2 % emissions decrease over the course of the year. In 2011 the EU ETS covered more than 12,000 power plants and manufacturing installations in the EU-27, Norway and Liechtenstein.
The report is the annual submission of the greenhouse gas inventory of the European Union to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and under the Kyoto Protocol. It presents greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2010 for the EU-27, the EU-15, individual Member States and by economic sector. It covers emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases.
The official EU submission to the UNFCCC is the result of a compilation made by the EEA. In autumn the EEA will publish early estimates for the 2011 emissions in the EU, and also a Trends and Projections report, looking ahead to assess progress against emissions targets.
For a more detailed analysis, see ‘Why did greenhouse gas emissions increase in the EU in 2010? EEA analysis in brief’.
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/media/newsreleases/higher-eu-greenhouse-gas-emissions or scan the QR code.
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