The European Union (EU) has achieved a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, estimated at 894 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2eq), a decrease of 4 percent in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024 compared to the same quarter of 2023, according to data published by Eurostat. This drop in emissions occurred despite the EU’s stable gross domestic product (GDP), which increased slightly by 0.3 percent over the same period.

The EU reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent to 894 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the first quarter of 2024, despite stable GDP growth of 0.3 percent. The largest declines were in electricity and gas supplies (minus 12.6 percent) and households (minus 4.4 percent). Emissions fell in 20 EU countries, with Bulgaria, Germany and Belgium recording the most declines.

The largest contribution to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions came from electricity and gas supplies, with a significant decrease of 12.6 percent, as well as private households, whose emissions fell by 4.4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2023.

The report also highlighted that greenhouse gas emissions fell in 20 EU Member States in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The largest declines were observed in Bulgaria (minus 15.2 percent), Germany (minus 6.7 percent) and Belgium (minus 6.0 percent), according to Eurostat.

Eight of the 20 EU countries that reduced their emissions also saw a decline in GDP. These countries include the Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria and Finland. However, 12 other EU countries were able to reduce their emissions while increasing their GDP. These countries include Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden and Croatia.

Fibre2Fashion Newsroom (DP)