In Q2 2024, the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 2.6% compared to Q2 2023, amounting to 790 million tonnes of CO2-equivalents. This decrease occurred alongside a 1.0% rise in the EU’s GDP during the same period. These figures were released by Eurostat, based on their quarterly estimates of greenhouse gas emissions by economic activity.
Significant reductions were seen in the electricity and gas supply sectors (-12.1%) and households (-4.2%). Emissions decreased in 19 EU countries, with the Netherlands leading the pack with a 9.1% reduction, followed by Bulgaria (-6.3%), and both Austria and Hungary (-5.9%).
Of these 19 countries, five (Ireland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Austria) experienced GDP declines, while the remaining 14, including Germany, France, and Italy, managed to reduce emissions while growing their GDP. These findings highlight a continued trend towards decoupling economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions in the EU.
