Published : May 29,
2013 - Greenhouse gases fell by 3.3 % in
the EU in 2011, leading to the lowest level
of emissions in reports going back to 11000.
The decrease in 2011 was also the third
largest over this period, according to official
data compiled by the European Environment
Agency (EEA) and reported by the EU to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC).
The greenhouse gas emissions
cut in 2011 is good news, however, it was
largely due to a warmer winter. Nonetheless,
the EU is making clear progress towards
its emission targets.
Jacqueline McGlade,
EEA Executive Director
The European Union’s
total greenhouse gas emissions in 2011 were
18.4 % below 11000 levels, according to
the EU greenhouse gas inventory. When international
aviation is included, in line with the climate
and energy package, greenhouse gas emissions
fell 17 % in the EU since 11000.
Jacqueline McGlade,
EEA Executive Director, said: “The greenhouse
gas emissions cut in 2011 is good news,
however, it was largely due to a warmer
winter. Nonetheless, the EU is making clear
progress towards its emission targets.”
She continued: “There
was an increase in consumption of more carbon-intensive
fuels such as coal, while hydroelectricity
production and gas consumption decreased.
If Europe is to achieve the transition towards
a low-carbon society, it will need sustained
investment in technology and innovation.”
Why were greenhouse
gas emissions lower?
The 2011 emissions decrease
was largely due to a milder winter in 2011
compared to 2010, which led to a lower demand
for heating. The officially reported 2011
emissions were 3.3 % lower than the previous
year, while the EU experienced a 1.6 % growth
in GDP.
The reduction in emissions
is larger than EEA’s estimates published
last year, because the extent of the reduced
heating demand only became apparent when
complete and final energy data became available.
The highest emissions reductions were from
homes and commerce.
Trends in EU greenhouse
gas emissions compared to 11000/Kyoto Protocol
base year
Other findings
Almost two thirds of
the emissions reduction in 2011 came from
the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
The largest increases in the absolute volume
of emissions were in Romania, Bulgaria and
Spain.
Fossil fuel consumption decreased by 5 %
in the EU. However, the average carbon intensity
of the fossil fuels used increased, with
solid fuel consumption, such as hard coal
and lignite, rising by almost 2 % between
2010 and 2011. Liquid fuel consumption decreased
by 4 % and natural gas consumption fell
by almost 11 %. Biomass combustion increased
by less than 1% in EU-27 in 2011.
Consumption of energy from renewable sources
had the second largest decline of the last
21 years in percentage terms, mainly due
to significantly lower hydroelectricity
production. Wind and solar, however, continued
increasing strongly in 2011.
Nuclear power’s contribution to electricity
also declined in the EU in 2011 compared
to 2010, mainly due to closure of power
plants in Germany, according to Eurostat
energy data.
Road transport emissions continued to decline
in 2011 for the fourth consecutive year.
In contrast, emissions from international
aviation and shipping increased in 2011.
Early indications of 2012 figures
Official total EU greenhouse
gas emissions inventory data submitted to
the UNFCCC are only available up to 2011.
However, there other EU emission data sets
which provide an increasingly complete picture
of emission changes in 2012:
Verified greenhouse
gas emissions in sectors covered by the
EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS, covering
approximately 40 % of total EU greenhouse
gas emissions) fell by 2% between 2011 and
2012;
Early estimates published today by Eurostat
and based on monthly energy statistics of
carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel
combustion (covering approximately 80% of
EU total greenhouse gas emissions) also
point to a 2.1 % decrease between 2011 and
2012;
In early autumn, the EEA will publish the
Approximated EU Greenhouse Gas Inventory,
covering total EU emissions for 2012. This
report will cover emissions of all gases
from all major sectors reported under the
UNFCCC. The report will be used by the EU
to assess current progress towards emission
targets;
The official EU greenhouse gas inventory
for 2012 will only become available in late
May 2014 and will be officially submitted
to the UNFCCC by the EU. As with this year,
it will be the result of a compilation made
by the EEA on behalf of the European Commission,
in close collaboration with the EU Member
States, the EEA’s European Topic Centre
on Air Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation
(ETC/ACM), the European Commission’s Joint
Research Centre (JRC), Eurostat and Directorate-General
Climate Action (DG CLIMA).