EU greenhouse gas emissions still off-target

European Union emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) declined for the third consecutive year in 2007, according to the EU's GHG inventory report compiled by the European Environment Agency. The EU-27's overall domestic emissions were 9.3 % below 1990 levels, which equalled a drop of 1.2 % or 59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent compared to 2006. The EU-15 now stands 5 % below its Kyoto Protocol base year levels. Its target is to have reduced emissions by 8% below 1990 levels between 2008-2012.

Falling emissions since 2005 have largely resulted from the lower use of fossil fuels (particularly oil and gas) in households and services - these sectors, not covered by the EU Emission Trading System (ETS), are among the largest sources of GHG emissions in the EU. Warmer weather and higher fuel prices were the primary causes for the drop in emissions in 2006-2007, with most of the decrease occurring in households - particularly in Germany.

Agricultural emissions appear to have slightly declined; but the emissions removed through land use change and forestry also appear to have declined, and by a greater amount (see pp 11-12 of the summary report).

Seventeen EU Member States reduced GHG emissions in 2007. Among EU-15 States, all but Spain and Greece reduced emissions. GHG emissions from international aviation and maritime transport, currently excluded in the national totals, have grown steadily since 1990, reaching 6 % of total EU emissions in 2007. The UK's emissions appear to have fallen by 1.7% between 2006-2007.

Note, however, that the inventory focuses on production-related emissions. That is, it shows figures for emissions generated within national borders and as such does not take into account emissions embedded in the goods and services we import. Once emissions attributable to our true consumption are taken into account, studies show that our emissions appear actually to be increasing.

Levels of CO2 in the atmosphere have increased faster than expected during the past few years, according to an international team of scientists who attribute the sharp rise in CO2 levels to three factors.

Since 2000, a growing global economy, an increase in the carbon emissions required to produce each unit of economic activity, and a decreasing efficiency of carbon sinks on land and in oceans have combined to produce the most rapid seven-year increase in atmospheric CO2 since the beginning of continuous atmospheric monitoring in 1959. The research findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS).

Information on the EU situation may be found here.