30 May 2012: The European Environment Agency (EEA) has released the Annual EU greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory for 1990–2010 and inventory report for 2012, which confirm that GHG emissions of EU member States increased by 2.4% (111 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) in 2010.

The report is the annual submission of the GHG inventory of the EU to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. It presents GHG emissions between 1990 and 2010 for EU-27, EU-15, individual member States and economic sector.

The EEA notes that the EU is still on track to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol as 2010 emissions are still 15.4% below 1990 levels. The EEA identifies several reasons for the increase in emissions in 2010, including the very sharp emissions decrease, of 7.3%, in 2009, the rebound effect of economic recovery following the 2009 recession, and a colder than normal winter, which increased energy consumption. The EEA also highlights factors that dampened the increase, such as increased use of renewable energy and falling gas prices, and increasing carbon intensity of fossil fuel consumption.

The EEA further notes that emissions growth took place primarily in the residential and commercial sectors, manufacturing and construction, and public heat and electricity production, while road transport emissions fell. Germany, Poland and the UK contributed to 56% of the net increased emissions. [EEA Press Release] [Publication: Annual European Union Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990–2010 and Inventory Report 2012]