On October 31, 2024, the European Environment Agency (EEA) announced an 8% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across the EU for 2023. This decline marks one of the steepest drops in decades, attributed to a decrease in fossil fuel usage and an increase in renewable energy sources.
The EEA reported that total net emissions are now 37% below 1990 levels, indicating a continued effort towards climate neutrality. The bloc, which is the world's fourth-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, saw renewable energy account for 44.7% of electricity generation, surpassing fossil fuels at 32.5%.
The European Commission highlighted that this reduction has coincided with a 68% increase in GDP since 1990, demonstrating a decoupling of emissions from economic growth. The Commission noted that the current trajectory is on track to meet the EU's commitment to reduce emissions by at least 55% by 2030.
Despite these advancements within the EU, global greenhouse gas concentrations have reached record highs, with the World Meteorological Organization reporting continued increases in carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide levels in 2023.