Sharpest decrease of the decade in EU’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, before impacts of COVID-19

The EEA’s approximated greenhouse gas inventory shows that the EU’s total emissions decreased by close to 4 % in 2019, compared with 2018. This reduction puts the EU emissions approximately 24 % below 1990 levels (26 % if the United Kingdom is included). EU emissions have remained consistently below the 20 % reduction target for 2020 since 2014.

The downward emission trend reflects the strong and steady growth of renewable energy in Europe and the shift away from coal, triggered particularly by increased carbon emission prices. Moreover, the 2019 drop took place in a period of economic growth, highlighting the results of effective climate policies implemented across the EU. This shows that it is clearly possible to achieve more ambitious reduction targets by 2030, paving the way for a climate neutral EU by 2050.

The sharp decrease in emissions in 2019 comes before the effects of the Covid-19 crisis on Europe. The EEA will publish the first detailed data on the EU's 2020 greenhouse emissions in the autumn of 2021.

The EEA will also publish more detailed data on 2019 emissions at the Member State level later this autumn as part of its ‘Trends and projections’ report series, including an assessment about the progress of EU and its Member States towards their respective targets on greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy and energy efficiency. More information about the environmental and climate impacts of COVID-19 is available on the Agency’s website.

Phase out of ozone-depleting substances in the EU

A new EEA briefing confirms that the EU is achieving its goals to phase out ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol. The new data show that in 2019, for the seventh consecutive year, the EU destroyed or exported more ozone-depleting substances than it produced or imported. The results reflect the successful implementation of the EU's Ozone Regulation, which goes further than the Montreal Protocol.

The EEA briefing was published on the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, which is celebrated every year on 16 September. This year marks 35^th anniversary of the Vienna Convention and 35 years of ozone layer protection at global level.