EU reveals economy GHG emissions in Q3 2022

The European Union (EU) economy’s greenhouse gas emissions rose to 854 million tonnes of CO2-equivalents in Q3 2022, a 2% rise from Q3 2021, according to Eurostat. The increase has been attributed to GDP growth following a decrease due to the pandemic.

However, compared to the pre-pandemic third quarter of 2019, EU economy greenhouse gas emissions have reduced by 4%. The data was released today as part of Eurostat’s quarterly estimates of greenhouse gas emissions by economic activity.

Quarterly greenhouse gas emissions are used to complement quarterly socio-economic data such as GDP and employment. The EU GDP grew by 3% in Q3 2022, slightly more than the 2% rise in greenhouse gas emissions, with most countries experiencing growth in both. However, some countries, including Slovakia and the Netherlands, managed to decrease emissions while GDP grew.

The manufacturing sector, followed by electricity and gas supply, households, agriculture, and transportation and storage, were the sectors responsible for the most greenhouse gas emissions in the EU in Q3 2022.

The increase in emissions between Q3 2021 and Q3 2022 suggests a recovery from the pandemic, with 16 of the 27 EU member states showing increased emissions. Meanwhile, the largest decreases in emissions were recorded in Lithuania, Slovakia, and the Netherlands.