European overview of GHG emissions

GHG emissions in the EU27 in 2023

In Mt CO₂ eq

*Indirect CO₂ included. These emissions are not estimated by all countries.
Note: the waste sector excludes incineration with energy recovery (included in "Energy use").
Unlike Part 2, the data used in this section come from official national inventories reported by European countries to the UNFCCC and compiled by the European Environment Agency.
Source: UNFCCC format - EEA, 2025

In 2023, the European Union's GHG emissions, excluding LULUCF, amounted to 3.1 Gt CO₂ eq. CO₂ accounts for 80% of these emissions, while 12% of them are methane (CH₄). After a rebound in the wake of the health crisis in 2021 (+5%), they fell sharply (-3% in 2022, -8% in 2023). Over the longer term, they were 36% lower than in 1990.

GHG emissions (excluding LULUCF) of EU member countries in 2023 and evolution since 1990

Note: the graph shows each country's emissions in 2023 and their evolution since 1990. For example, Germany emitted 672 Mt CO₂ eq in 2023, down 46.3% on 1990.
Source: UNFCCC format - EEA, 2025

GHG emissions (excluding LULUCF) in the 27-member European Union fell by 36% between 1990 and 2023. Germany, Italy, France, Poland and Spain, which account for two-thirds of EU emissions in 2023, contributed unevenly to this drop: -6% for Spain, -27% for Poland, -26% for Italy, -31% for France and -46% for Germany (countries that formerly belonged to the USSR generally experienced a significant drop as they left a less efficient, highly industrialized, planned economy).

Among the other member countries, the level of decline is highly variable, with some countries having halved or more their emissions, notably the Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania), while others have seen their emissions stagnate or increase over the same period, such as Ireland and Cyprus.

Breakdown by source of GHG emissions in the EU-27 between 1990 and 2023

Source : UNFCCC format - EEA, 2025

In the European Union, energy use remains the main source of GHG emissions in 2023 (76% of the total excluding LULUCF), followed by agriculture (12%) and industrial processes (9%). For the first time, emissions from the energy industry are lower than those from transport: 32% of emissions linked to energy use come from the energy industry, notably electricity generation, and 34% from transport use.

Between 2022 and 2023, total emissions excluding LULUCF fell by 8%. Emissions linked to energy use fall (-9%), driven by the energy industry (-19%), the residential and services sectors (-8%), and manufacturing and construction (-7%). The fall was less marked in transport (-1%). Emissions from industrial processes are also falling (-9%), as are emissions from other sources (agriculture, waste).

Over the longer term, emissions have fallen since 1990 in all these sectors, with the notable exception of transport (+18%, see p. 48).