In the first quarter of 2024, greenhouse gas emissions from the EU economy were estimated at 894 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e), a decrease of 4.0% compared to the same quarter of 2023 (931 million tonnes of CO2e). The EU’s gross domestic product (GDP) remained stable, recording only a small increase (0.3% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of 2023).

This information comes from data on quarterly estimates of greenhouse gas emissions by economic activity published today by Eurostat. Quarterly estimates of greenhouse gas emissions complement quarterly socio-economic data such as GDP or employment.

This article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article on quarterly greenhouse gas emissions.

Source datasets: env_ac_aigg_q, namq_10_gdp

The largest declines in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023 were recorded in the electricity and gas supply (-12.6%) and households (-4.4%) sectors.

Greenhouse gas emissions have fallen in 20 EU countries

In the first quarter of 2024, greenhouse gas emissions in 20 EU countries are estimated to have decreased compared to the same quarter in 2023.

The largest reductions in greenhouse gases are estimated for Bulgaria (-15.2%), Germany (-6.7%) and Belgium (-6.0%).

Of the estimated 20 EU Member States that have reduced their emissions, 8 have seen their GDP decrease at the same time (Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria and Finland). The other 12 EU countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and Croatia) are estimated to have reduced their emissions while increasing their GDP.

Source datasets: env_ac_aigg_q, namq_10_gdp