CO2 emissions in EU countries fell in the first quarter of this year despite economic growth

European Union countries produced 941 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the first quarter of this year, a decline of almost 3% compared with the same period last year. Eurostat pointed out that greenhouse gas emissions fell even as the economy grew, with gross domestic product rising by 1.2% year on year in the first quarter.

According to Eurostat, households were Europe's largest emitter in the first quarter, accounting for 24% of emissions. Manufacturing followed (20%), then energy (19%), agriculture (13%) and transport (10%).

"The data show that emissions fell in 5 of the 9 economic sectors compared with the first quarter of 2022. The largest decline was recorded in energy (-12.3%). Transport, on the other hand, was the sector with the largest increase (+7.2%),"

Trends in CO2 emissions and GDP in EU countries. Source: Eurostat

Czechia is one of 6 countries where both emissions and GDP fell