EU's greenhouse gas emissions decline 4% in Q4 2023

20 May '24

2 min read

EU's greenhouse gas emissions decline 4% in Q4 2023

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The European Union reported a 4 per cent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in Q4 2023, down to 897 million tonnes of CO2-eq, despite a stable GDP with a 0.2 per cent increase.
Significant reductions were seen in the electricity and gas supply sector (minus 17.2 per cent) and manufacturing (minus 3.1 per cent).
Emissions decreased in 22 countries.

The European Union (EU) has reported a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023, according to Eurostat. Emissions were estimated at 897 million tonnes of CO2-equivalents (CO2-eq), marking a 4 per cent decrease from the 935 million tonnes recorded in the same quarter of 2022. This reduction comes despite the EU's gross domestic product (GDP) remaining stable, with a slight increase of 0.2 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year.

The most substantial reductions in emissions were observed in the electricity and gas supply sector, which saw a decrease of 17.2 per cent, and the manufacturing sector, which reduced emissions by 3.1 per cent compared to the fourth quarter of 2022.

A total of 22 EU member states reported decreased greenhouse gas emissions in the fourth quarter of 2023. Estonia led the reductions with a significant 23 per cent decrease, followed by Bulgaria at 17 per cent and Finland at 9 per cent, a per Eurostat.

Out of the 22 countries that reduced emissions, 10 also experienced a decline in their GDP. These countries include Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Hungary managed to maintain its GDP level while decreasing emissions.

Conversely, 11 EU countries succeeded in decreasing their emissions while simultaneously growing their GDP. These countries are Bulgaria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Italy, Spain, France, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Croatia.

Emissions increases were estimated for Malta, Slovenia, Cyprus, Slovakia, and Greece. Concurrently, all five countries also recorded GDP growth: Malta, Slovenia, Cyprus, Slovakia, and Greece.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)

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