EU emissions drop 2.6% in Q2 2024

Green Forum
In the second quarter of 2024, the EU economy greenhouse gas emissions were estimated at 790 million tonnes of CO2-equivalents (CO2-eq), a 2.6% decrease compared with the same quarter of 2023 (812 million tonnes of CO2-eq). 

The EU's gross domestic product (GDP) registered a 1.0% increase in the second quarter of 2024, compared with the same quarter of 2023. 

This information comes from data on quarterly estimates for greenhouse gas emissions by economic activity published by Eurostat today. 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.

Compared with the second quarter of 2023, in the second quarter of 2024, the economic sectors responsible for the largest reductions were electricity and gas supply (-12.1%) and households (-4.2%). 

Greenhouse gas emissions down in 19 EU countries 

In the second quarter of 2024, greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to have decreased in 19 EU countries when compared with the same quarter of 2023. 

The largest reductions in greenhouse gases were estimated for the Netherlands (-9.1%), Bulgaria (-6.3%), Austria and Hungary (each -5.9%).

Out of the 19 EU countries that were estimated to have decreased their emissions, 5 recorded a decline in their GDP (Ireland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Austria). The other 14 EU countries (Poland, Denmark, Croatia, Spain, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Portugal, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, Czechia, Netherlands, France and Germany) were estimated to have decreased emissions while growing their GDP.
 

RECOMMENDED
EU hits 24.5% renewables, targets 42.5% by 2030
Energy

EU hits 24.5% renewables, targets 42.5% by 2030

The EU reached a 24.5% share of its gross final energy consumption from renewable sources in 2023, around 1.5 percentage points (pp) higher than in 2022 and almost 3 times higher than in 2004 (9.6%).

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