EUROPE'S GHG EMISSIONS DOWN

ENERDATA - 2 Dec 2020 - According to the European Environment Agency (EEA), greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU 27 decreased by almost 4% in 2019, thanks to a steady growth in renewable power generation and sustained efforts to reduce emissions levels in time of economic growth. Since 1990, GHG emissions in the EU have been steadily declining, with emissions in the EU 27 falling to 24% below their 1990 levels in 2019. The decarbonisation of the EU's power sector has led to major and sustained emission cuts in the sectors covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), highlighting the possibility to achieve more ambitious reduction targets by 2030. Still, 12 Member States had emission levels greater than their annual targets in 2019, namely Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta and Poland.

In 2019, the EU 27 achieved a total share of energy consumed from renewable sources of 19.4%. The EU is therefore on track to the 2020 target of a minimum 20% share, even if 14 Member States still need to make further efforts to reach their 2020 target, namely Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

Where energy efficiency is concerned, final energy consumption in the EU 27 stabilised in 2019, but only 9 countries are on track towards their respective 2020 final energy efficiency targets, namely Finland, Greece, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain.

-----