Luxembourg’s 12% reduction in CO2 emissions exemplifies its clear commitment to a greener future. According to the report from European statistics agency Eurostat, the EU’s CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion for energy use decreased by 2.8%, reaching nearly 2.4 Gigatons (Gt). The agency notes that CO2 emissions from energy use are a major contributor to global warming, accounting for approximately 75% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions in the EU.
This reduction is an encouraging sign of progress in Luxembourg’s commitment to combating climate change. Luxembourg’s integrated national energy and climate plan (PNEC) includes two main targets: first, a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the levels in 2005, and second, achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
The launch of a second call for photovoltaic solar power projects by the Ministry of the Economy and the Ministry of Energy and Spatial Planning constitute a combination of several efforts aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels and promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources over the last years.
Decreases in CO2 emissions: Top EU performers
17 out of 26 member states considered in the report saw a decline in CO2 emissions from territorial energy use in 2022 compared to 2021. After the Netherlands, which had the biggest decrease at -12.8%, Luxembourg leads the pack with an impressive -12% decrease, followed by Belgium with -9.7%, and then Hungary with -8.6%.
On the flip side, Bulgaria had the highest increase in CO2 emissions, which rose by 12%. Portugal followed with a 9.9% increase, and Malta had a 4.1% increase.
Germany was responsible for 25% of the EU’s CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use for energy. Italy and Poland followed with 12.4% each, and France came next with 10.7%.
The report notes that several factors influence CO2 emissions from energy use, including the fuel mix, housing standards, economic growth, population size, and industrial and transport activities.
An examination of the fuel-specific data reveals that the EU saw a small rise in CO2 emissions from solid fossil fuels (by +3 percentage points). Emissions from oil and petroleum products remained nearly the same as in 2021 (+1 percentage point).
However, there was a substantial decrease in CO2 emissions from natural gas (-13 percentage points) owing to the efforts of member states to reach the voluntary gas reduction target set at EU level last year to reduce natural gas consumption by 15% between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
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