Trends and projections in Europe 2016

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Executive summary

Executive summary

06 Dec 2016

Progress of the European Union and its Member States towards 2020 climate and energy targets.

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1. Overall progress towards the European Union's '20-20-20' climate and energy targets

1. Overall progress towards the European Union's '20-20-20' climate and energy targets

01 Dec 2016

This chapter presents a synthetic overview of the progress achieved by the EU and its Member States in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the use of energy from renewable sources and reducing energy consumption, in view of their 2020 targets.

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2. Progress of the European Union towards its greenhouse gas emission targets

2. Progress of the European Union towards its greenhouse gas emission targets

08 Nov 2016

This chapter presents the progress achieved by the European Union in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in view of its short and longer-term climate mitigation objectives. It also presents trends and projections of emissions in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), under Effort Sharing, as well as for land-use and forestry activities.

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3. Progress towards Member States' greenhouse gas emission targets

3. Progress towards Member States' greenhouse gas emission targets

08 Nov 2016

This chapter presents the current progress achieved by EU Member States towards their national annual targets on greenhouse gas emissions. These targets, set under the Effort Sharing Decision (ESD), concern emissions which are not included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). It also presents an outlook of the projected progress towards ESD targets.

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4. Progress of the European Union towards its renewable energy targets

4. Progress of the European Union towards its renewable energy targets

01 Dec 2016

This chapter presents the progress achieved by the European Union in developing renewable energy, in view of achieving its 2020 target. It also presents information on the development of renewable energy specifically for electricity, heating and cooling, and transport.

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5. Progress towards Member States' renewable energy targets

5. Progress towards Member States' renewable energy targets

01 Dec 2016

This chapter presents the current progress achieved by EU Member States towards their national targets on renewable energy. These targets, set under the Renewable Energy Directive, concern the use energy from renewable sources as a proportion of the total energy consumption.

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6. Progress of the European Union towards its energy efficiency targets

6. Progress of the European Union towards its energy efficiency targets

01 Dec 2016

This chapter presents the progress achieved by the European Union in reducing its energy consumption, in view of achieving its 2020 objective on energy efficiency

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7. Progress towards Member States' energy efficiency targets

7. Progress towards Member States' energy efficiency targets

01 Dec 2016

This chapter presents the progress achieved by EU Member States towards their national targets on primary energy consumption. Member States had to set these indicative, non-binding targets on primary or final energy consumption for 2020 under the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).

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8. Trends and projections in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey

8. Trends and projections in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey

08 Nov 2016

This chapter presents a short overview of greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in the five countries which are members of the European Environment Agency, but not of the European Union.

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Annex 1 Progress towards greenhouse gas emission targets: data and methodology

Annex 1 Progress towards greenhouse gas emission targets: data and methodology

08 Nov 2016

This annex provides technical details on the data and methods used by the EEA to track current and projected progress towards greenhouse gas emission targets in the EU.

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Annex 2 Progress towards renewable energy targets: data and methodology

Annex 2 Progress towards renewable energy targets: data and methodology

01 Dec 2016

This annex provides technical details on the data and methods used by the EEA to track current and projected progress towards renewable energy targets in the EU.

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Annex 3 Progress towards energy efficiency targets: data and methodology

Annex 3 Progress towards energy efficiency targets: data and methodology

01 Dec 2016

This annex provides technical details on the data and methods used by the EEA to track current and projected progress towards energy efficiency targets in the EU.

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Background information - International climate commitments in Europe

Background information - International climate commitments in Europe

08 Nov 2016

This section presents the main climate change mitigation targets and objectives taken by the European Union and other member countries of the European Environment Agency, in particular under the United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

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Background information - Domestic climate and energy targets in the EU

Background information - Domestic climate and energy targets in the EU

08 Nov 2016

This section presents in detail the main climate and energy objectives which the EU and its Member States are committed to achieve by 2020, 2030 and 2050.

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News and articles

Surplus emission permits start decreasing in the EU’s emissions trading system The surplus of CO2 emission allowances in the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) started declining in 2015. This is the first significant decrease since unused allowances started accumulating in 2008. However, the surplus remains substantial, according to the European Environment Agency’s annual report on the EU’s emissions cap and trade system published today.
Decommissioning fossil fuel power plants between now and 2030 essential for Europe’s low carbon future Significant changes will be needed in the Member States’ energy-generating mix if the European Union is to meet its 2050 goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95 % compared to 1990 levels, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report published today. While the European Union has made considerable progress in improving energy efficiency and using renewable energy sources, a well-planned transition out of carbon-intensive power generation is needed to meet the long-term aim of creating a low-carbon society.
Beyond Paris: making low-carbon economy happen Last December in Paris, the world set itself an ambitious target: limiting the global average temperature rise well below 2 degrees, while aiming to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. At the G20 summit earlier this month, China and the United States announced their formal commitment to join the Paris agreement. This is a major step forward for the international effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming. Nevertheless, the current reduction commitments made so far by signatory countries are not sufficient to meet this ambitious target.
Transport in Europe: key facts and trends Despite temporary slowdowns, the demand for transport of both passengers and goods has been growing steadily and is projected to continue. As such, more and more cars are sold in Europe, the majority of which are diesel powered. And while engines are becoming more efficient, this growth means GHG emissions are a major concern.
Aviation and shipping in the spotlight Flying off for a weekend break, cotton t-shirts made in Bangladesh, roses from Kenya… These are some of the products available to us in a well-connected, globalised world. Aviation and shipping contribute to economic growth, but they also lead to impacts on human health, the climate and the environment. Faced with future projections of growth, these two sectors have started to explore ways to reduce their impact.
EU greenhouse gas emissions at lowest level since 1990 European Union (EU) greenhouse gas emissions continued to decrease in 2014, with a 4.1% reduction in emissions to 24.4% below 1990 levels, according to the EU’s annual inventory published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Renewable energy: key to Europe’s low-carbon future The future looks bright for renewable energy sources which are playing an increasingly important role as Europe tries to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. We talked about the opportunities and challenges ahead for clean energy with Mihai Tomescu, energy expert at the European Environment Agency.
Reported CO2 emissions from new cars continue to fall Emissions from official testing reported by national authorities show that new cars sold in the European Union (EU) are increasingly more fuel-efficient. Last year, new passenger cars emitted on average 119.6 grammes (g) of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometre, 8% below the official EU target set for 2015, according to provisional data published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
Renewables increasingly curbing reliance on fossil fuels The use of fossil fuels across the European Union continues to decline due in part to increased consumption of renewable energy sources like wind, solar and biomass, according to a report published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The report, which assesses progress on the use of renewable energy, found that clean energy technologies are an important driving force in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and in creating employment in Europe.
Climate agreement: towards a low-carbon, climate resilient world The climate deal agreed in Paris by 195 countries is the first-ever universal and legally binding agreement of its kind. The Paris agreement is the result of many years of preparation, dialogue and growing awareness of the need to tackle current and potential impacts of climate change. It constitutes a major and promising step towards building a low-carbon and climate-resilient world. It also sends a clear signal to policy makers and businesses to move away from fossil fuels and invest in clean energy and adaptation actions.
Phase-down of fluorinated gases essential to reduce effect on climate Fluorinated gases (F-gases) have been introduced as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances in many sectors, but they contribute significantly to climate change. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has today published a new report on their production, import and export, which contributes to tracking progress towards their phase-down.
CO2 emissions from new vehicles in Europe continued to decrease in 2014 Vehicles sold in the European Union in 2014 were, on average, 2.5% more efficient than those sold the previous year, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). The report, which updates the preliminary data published earlier this year, tracks progress towards CO2 emission targets for new passenger cars and vans.
Climate change: EU shows leadership ahead of Paris with 23% emissions cut The European Union is on track towards meeting and overachieving its 2020 target for reducing greenhouse emissions by 20%, according to a report published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The "Trends and projections in Europe 2015" report reveals that greenhouse gas emissions in Europe decreased by 23% between 1990 and 2014 and reached the lowest levels on record. Latest projections by Member States show that the EU is heading for a 24% reduction by 2020 with current measures in place, and a 25% reduction with additional measures already being planned in Member States. The EU is already working towards its 2030 goal of an emissions reduction target of at least 40% — the EU's contribution towards the new global climate change agreement in Paris in December.

Related data

European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) data from EUTL Data about the EU emission trading system (ETS). The EU ETS data viewer provides aggregated data on emissions and allowances, by country, sector and year. The data mainly comes from the EU Transaction Log (EUTL). Additional information on auctioning and scope corrections is included.
National emissions reported to the UNFCCC and to the EU Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism Data on greenhouse gas emissions and removals, sent by countries to UNFCCC and the EU Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism (EU Member States). This data set reflects the GHG inventory data for 2016 as reported under the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change.
National emissions reported to the UNFCCC and to the EU Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism Data on greenhouse gas emissions and removals, sent by countries to UNFCCC and the EU Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Mechanism (EU Member States). This data set reflects the GHG inventory data for 2016 as reported under the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change.

Related infographics

EU targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Several EU targets have been set to reduce the environmental impacts of transport in Europe, including its greenhouse gas. The transport sector’s targets are part of the EU’s overall goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 – 95 % by 2050.
Fuel types and GHG emissions Transport demand is closely linked to economic activity: in periods of growth, economic output goes up, more goods are transported and more people travel. The impacts of transport on human health, the environment and climate change are closely linked to the choice of fuel. Clean alternative fuels, including electricity, are already available and can constitute viable options to petrol and diesel. Trip length plays a role in determining the suitability of the fuel type.
Mitigating climate change The European Union's effort to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions are working. In fact, the EU is expected to meet its unilateral 20 % reduction target (compared to 1990) ahead of the agreed 2020 deadline. Moreover, the EU intends to reduce domestic emissions by at least 40 % by 2030 and further decarbonise its economy by 2050. The EU currently emits around 10 % of global greenhouse-gas emissions.
Are we ready for climate change? Climate change is causing a variety of impacts to our health, ecosystems and economy. These impacts are likely to become more serious in the coming decades. If not addressed, these impacts could prove very costly, in terms of ill health, adverse effects on ecosystems, and damaged property and infrastructure.
Carbon dioxide emissions from passenger transport A wide range of transport options exists, but choosing the one with lowest emissions is not always straightforward. One way to measure your environmental impact is to look at the CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre travelled.

Related publications

Approximated EU GHG inventory: proxy GHG estimates for 2015 This report provides estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (EU) and its Member States for 2015, covering the full GHG inventory (all sectors, except land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), and all gases). These estimates are also referred to as approximated ('proxy') estimates or inventories in this report as they cover the year for which no official GHG inventories have been prepared yet. The proxy inventories in this report are based on GHG emission estimates reported by Member States to the European Commission under existing EU legislation (1 ) and on calculations made by the European Environment Agency's (EEA) European Topic Centre on Air Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation (ETC/ACM) using activity and/or emission data at country level. The official submission of 2015 inventories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place in 2017. The proxy estimates greatly improve the timeliness of information on GHG emissions and are used for analysis of emission trends and progress towards EU climate targets.
Trends and projections in the EU ETS in 2016 — The EU Emissions Trading System in numbers The report provides an analysis of past, present and future emissions trends under the EU ETS, based on the latest data and information available from the European Commission and Member States. It also analyses the balance between supply and demand of allowances in the market. The report's annexes provide extensive material describing the functioning, scope and cap of the EU ETS.
Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory 1990–2014 and inventory report 2016 This report is the annual submission of the greenhouse gas inventory of the European Union to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It presents the greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2014 for the EU-28 individual Member States by IPCC sector.
Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory 1990–2013 and inventory report 2015 This report is the annual submission of the greenhouse gas inventory of the European Union to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It presents the greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2013 for the EU-28 individual Member States by IPCC sector.
Trends and projections in Europe 2015 — Tracking progress towards Europe's climate and energy targets The 2015 edition of the annual European Environment Agency (EEA) 'Trends and projections' report provides an updated assessment of the progress of the European Union (EU) and European countries towards their climate mitigation and energy targets. The assessment of Member States’ progress towards their climate and energy targets is based on: national data on GHG emissions, renewable energy and energy consumption for 2013; and projections reported by Member States concerning expected trends in greenhouse gas emissions until 2035. The report also presents preliminary ('approximated' or 'proxy') data for the year 2014. The report supports and complements the annual assessment, by the European Commission, of the progress of the EU and its Member States towards meeting the Kyoto and EU 2020 objectives, as required by EU regulation (the Monitoring Mechanism Regulation).
Trends and projections in the EU ETS in 2015 This report provides an analysis of past, present and future emissions trends under the EU ETS, based on the latest data and information available from the European Commission and Member States. It also analyses the balance between supply and demand of allowances in the market. The report's annexes provide extensive material describing the functioning, scope and cap of the EU ETS, as well as a specific analysis of emissions of non-CO2 gases covered by the EU ETS.
Approximated EU GHG inventory: proxy GHG estimates for 2014 This report provides proxy estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (EU) and its Member States for the year 2014, covering the full GHG inventory (all sectors, except Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), and all gases). The proxy estimates in this report are based on data reported by Member States to the European Commission under existing EU legislation and on calculations made by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The proxy estimates are not based on complete activity data and should be considered as preliminary until the official inventory submissions for years 1990-2014 are reported to UNFCCC in 2016. The proxy estimates greatly improve the timeliness of information on GHG emissions and are used for analysis of emission trends and progress to EU climate targets.
Projections in hindsight An assessment of past emission projections reported by Member States under EU air pollution and GHG legislation
Approximated EU GHG inventory: proxy GHG estimates for 2013 This report provides proxy estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (EU) and its Member States for the year 2013, covering the full GHG inventory (all sectors, except Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), and all gases). The proxy estimates in this report are based on data reported by Member States to the European Commission under existing EU legislation and on calculations made by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The proxy estimates are not based on complete activity data and should be considered as preliminary until the official inventory submissions are reported to UNFCCC in 2015. The proxy estimates greatly improve the timeliness of information on GHG emissions and are used for analysis of emission trends and progress to EU climate targets.
Progress towards 2008 – 2012 Kyoto targets in Europe This report provides an assessment of the latest progress, as of June 2014, made by EU and European countries in achieving their GHG targets during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, from 2008 until 2012.
Trends and projections in Europe 2014 Tracking progress towards Europe's climate and energy targets for 2020
Annual European Union greenhouse gas inventory 1990–2012 and inventory report 2014 This report is the annual submission of the greenhouse gas inventory of the European Union to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. It presents greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2012 for EU-28, EU-15, individual Member States and economic sector.
Trends and projections in Europe 2013 – Tracking progress towards Europe's climate and energy targets until 2020 This report provide an assessment of the progress of the EU and European countries towards achieving their climate mitigation and energy policy objectives. These targets include international commitments pursuant the KP and the EU 2020 commitment to reduce by 20 % greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to 1990, to create 20 % of energy consumption from renewables and to increase energy efficiency by 20 %. The assessment is based on GHG data for the period 2008–2012, including recent estimates of proxy 2012 GHG emissions, GHG projections until 2020 submitted by Member States in 2013, as well as energy statistics until 2011.
Approximated EU GHG inventory: early estimates for 2012 The objective of this report is to provide approximated estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU-15 and EU-28 for the year 2012. The official submission of 2012 data to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will occur in 2014.
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Approximated EU GHG inventory: early estimates for 2011 The objective of this report is to provide an early estimate of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU-15 and EU-27 for the year 2011. The official submission of 2011 data to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will occur in 2013.
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Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe 2011 - Tracking progress towards Kyoto and 2020 targets This report presents an overview of the progress achieved so far by the EU, its Member States and other EEA member countries towards their respective targets under the Kyoto Protocol and the EU burden-sharing agreement, as well as 2020 targets set at EU level. The assessment is based on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission data in Europe for the period 2008–2010, including recent EEA estimates of proxy 2010 GHG emissions.
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