Sector focus : electricity, transport and LULUCF

CO₂ emissions to produce 1 kWh of electricity in the EUʼ

Note: cogeneration and lʼautoproduction are included.
Source : SDES, dʼaprès AIE, 2025

Since 1990, CO₂ emissions for the production of 1 kWh of electricity have fallen by 59% in the European Union, to 224 g CO₂/kWh in 2023. Although this trend can be seen in almost all EU countries, emission levels vary widely. Emissions are high in countries where coal is still a major source of energy, such as Germany (366 g CO₂/kWh) or, even more so, Poland (636 g CO₂/kWh). Conversely, emissions are lower in countries that have developed nuclear and/or renewable energies, such as France (mainly nuclear, 49 g CO₂/kWh) or Sweden (mainly renewable energies, 27 g CO₂/kWh).

GHG emissions from transport in the EU-27ʼ

Note: emissions from international transport (including between two EU-27 countries) by sea and air are excluded from the totals presented on p. 44.
Source: UNFCCC format - EEA, 2025

GHG emissions from transport rose by 18% between 1990 and 2023 (excluding international transport). This growth is due to the increase in road traffic. Emissions from this mode have risen by 22% since 1990, as have those from air transport (+16%), while those from other modes have fallen (-28% for sea and river transport, -74% for rail transport). The majority of member countries saw their transport-related emissions rise, but very unevenly, e.g. +229% for Poland, +129% for Ireland, +50% for Spain. Other countries increased slightly, such as Italy (+7%), or stagnated, such as France. A few declined, notably Sweden (-30%) and Germany (-11%).

If international transport is included, the increase in transport-related GHG emissions between 1990 and 2023 reaches 25%, with emissions from international air and sea traffic rising faster than those from domestic transport: +125% for air and +21% for sea.

GHG emissions from LULUCF in the EU-27

Source: UNFCCC format - EEA, 2025

Total emissions from land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) are negative in the European Union, meaning that LULUCF sequesters more GHGs than it emits (-198 Mt CO₂ eq net in 2023). This result is mainly due to the growth of forests, while the urbanization of land and the cultivation of grasslands contribute to increasing emissions. The significant decline in the carbon sink observed over the last period is due in particular to the ageing of forests and an increase in harvesting.