EU greenhouse gas emissions are down 22% compared to 2008

Alina Oprea
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by the economic activities of resident units in the European Union last year stood at 3.6 billion tons of CO2 equivalent. This is a 22% decrease compared to 2008, the year in which publication began data, shows the information published by the European Statistics Office (Eurostat). The EU has set itself a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, to reach climate neutrality by 2050.

The activities with the highest GHG emissions in 2022 were industry and the supply of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning, both with 745 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, representing 21% of the total greenhouse gases emitted.

Households follow (718 million tons of CO2 equivalent, 20%), which are greenhouse gas emitters in transport, home heating, and other purposes.

Between 2008 and 2022, the most significant decline in GHG emissions was recorded in the extractive industry (minus 40%), the supply of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning (minus 37%), and industry (minus 28%).

RECOMMENDED
CO2 emissions fall by 3% in European Union
Environment

CO2 emissions fall by 3% in European Union

In the first quarter of 2023, greenhouse gas emissions generated by the economy of the European Union totaled 941 million tons of CO2 equivalent, a decrease of 2.9% compared to the same period in 2022 (969 million tons of CO2 equivalent), shows data published by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat).

RECOMMENDED FROM THE HOME PAGE
Sustainability moves from ambition to action
Real estate

Sustainability moves from ambition to action

Conducted in autumn 2025, the RICS Sustainable Real Estate Survey Europe gathered 112 responses from valuers, developers, investors and other professionals across 30 countries. The findings confirm that ESG has moved from a peripheral concern to a core driver of real estate value, risk and decision-making across Europe.

Finance

ProCredit Bank Romania launches CO2 calculator for SMEs

ProCredit Bank Romania has launched a CO2 Emissions Calculator to help microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises quantify and understand their carbon footprint. This initiative reflects the Procredit Group's commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with client engagement at the core of its Climate Action Strategy.

Energy

DSV boosts energy self-sufficiency with solar power

DSV – Global Transport and Logistics, the world's largest logistics operator, has launched a solar installation at its warehouse in Łozienica, Poland, in partnership with commercial real estate investor Accolade. The installation will meet the energy needs of Poland's first multi-client warehouse equipped with an AutoStore system.

Energy

Etem Gestamp signs cross-border wind power deal with Rezolv

Etem Gestamp, the Sofia-based joint venture between Viohalco Group and Spain's Gestamp Group focused on aluminium extrusion and processing for the automotive industry, and Rezolv Energy, the Actis-backed independent power producer, have signed a 10-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) in Bulgaria. The VPPA will see Etem Gestamp buy electricity from Rezolv Energy's 461MW 'Vifor' wind farm, which is about to come onstream in Buzău County, Romania. It is the first cross-border wind PPA that has been publicly announced in Bulgaria.

READ MORE
Green Forum  |  24 April, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Green Forum  |  14 April, 2026 at 8:46 AM