Europe achieves 23% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
ClickGreen
20th October 2015
The European Union is set to overachieve on its 2020 target for reducing greenhouse emissions by 20%, according to a report published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA).
The ‘Trends and projections in Europe 2015‘ report reveals that greenhouse gas emissions in Europe decreased by 23 per cent between 1990 and 2014 and reached the lowest levels on record.
Latest projections by Member States show that the EU is heading for a 24 per cent reduction by 2020 with current measures in place, and a 25 per cent reduction with additional measures already being planned in Member States.
The EU is already working towards its 2030 goal of an emissions reduction target of at least 40 per cent — the EU’s contribution towards the new global climate change agreement in Paris in December.
EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: “These results speak for themselves: Europe succeeded in cutting emissions by 23 per cent between 1990 and 2014 while the European economy grew by 46 per cent over the same period. We have shown consistently that climate protection and economic growth go hand in hand.
“This is a strong signal ahead of the Paris climate conference that Europe stands by its commitments and that our climate and energy policies work. And we have already taken the first steps towards implementing our Paris pledge with new proposals presented earlier this year.”
EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx said: “Europe’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy have resulted in concrete gains. Our report shows that the EU is on track towards its 2020 climate targets.
“The report also shows that to achieve our longer-term goals for 2030 and 2050, a fundamental change is needed in the way we produce and use energy in Europe.”
The EEA report reveals that according to approximated (‘proxy’) estimates for 2014 greenhouse gas, emissions fell by four per cent in 2014 compared to 2013. This was partly due to an unusually warm year, which lowered energy demand. This means the EU’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions were 23 per cent below 1990 levels in 2014.
Latest projections by Member States show the EU is heading for a 24 per cent reduction by 2020 with current measures in place, and a 25 per cent reduction with additional measures already being planned in Member States.
According to the report, the figures confirm the EU is also on track towards its Kyoto Protocol target for the second commitment period from 2013 to 2020.
Latest projections by Member States show that the EU is heading for a 24 per cent reduction by 2020 with current measures in place, and a 25 per cent reduction with additional measures already being planned in Member States.
The EU is already working towards its 2030 goal of an emissions reduction target of at least 40 per cent — the EU’s contribution towards the new global climate change agreement in Paris in December.
EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: “These results speak for themselves: Europe succeeded in cutting emissions by 23 per cent between 1990 and 2014 while the European economy grew by 46 per cent over the same period. We have shown consistently that climate protection and economic growth go hand in hand.
“This is a strong signal ahead of the Paris climate conference that Europe stands by its commitments and that our climate and energy policies work. And we have already taken the first steps towards implementing our Paris pledge with new proposals presented earlier this year.”
EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx said: “Europe’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy have resulted in concrete gains. Our report shows that the EU is on track towards its 2020 climate targets.
“The report also shows that to achieve our longer-term goals for 2030 and 2050, a fundamental change is needed in the way we produce and use energy in Europe.”
The EEA report reveals that according to approximated (‘proxy’) estimates for 2014 greenhouse gas, emissions fell by four per cent in 2014 compared to 2013. This was partly due to an unusually warm year, which lowered energy demand. This means the EU’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions were 23 per cent below 1990 levels in 2014.
Latest projections by Member States show the EU is heading for a 24 per cent reduction by 2020 with current measures in place, and a 25 per cent reduction with additional measures already being planned in Member States.
According to the report, the figures confirm the EU is also on track towards its Kyoto Protocol target for the second commitment period from 2013 to 2020.
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