The European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission released a series of reports on past and future greenhouse gas emissions in the EU that conclude that the EU succeeded in cutting emissions by 15.5% since 1990 while the economy grew by 41% over the same period and is "well on track to achieve its Kyoto Protocol target."
7 October 2011: The European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission have released a series of reports aimed at providing a comprehensive picture on past and projected greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU.
The EEA published three reports. The first is a technical paper titled “Approximated EU GHG Inventory: Early Estimates for 2010,” which presents initial figures on 2010 GHG emissions in the EU, following the publication of consolidated 2009 emission data in June. Final 2010 data will be available in May 2012, with the submission of the EU GHG inventory report to the UNFCCC.
The second report is titled “GHG Emission Trends and Projections in Europe 2011: Tracking Progress towards Kyoto and 2020 Targets,” which confirms progress achieved or expected by European countries towards GHG emission targets.
The third report, titled “GHG Emissions in Europe: A Retrospective Trend Analysis for the Period 1990-2008” presents an overview of drivers behind EU GHG emissions since 1990, with a focus on the influence of policies at EU level.
The EEA notes that these initial estimates confirm that the EU “remains well on track to achieve its Kyoto Protocol target for reducing GHG emissions despite a 2.4% emissions increase in 2010,” as the latter follows a 7% drop in 2009, largely due to the economic recession and growth of renewable energy generation.
The European Commission published its “Report towards Achieving the Kyoto Objectives,” according to which the EU is making substantial progress in decoupling carbon emissions and economic growth, and that by 2010 the EU succeeded in cutting emissions by 15.5% since 1990 while the economy grew by 41% over the same period. [EEA Press Release] [Publication: Approximated EU Greenhouse Gas Inventory: Early Estimates for 2010] [Publication: Greenhouse Gas Emission Trends and Projections in Europe 2011 – Tracking Progress Towards Kyoto and 2020 Targets] [Publication: Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Europe: A Retrospective Trend Analysis for the Period 1990–2008] [EU Press Release] [Publication: Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council – Progress Towards Achieving the Kyoto Objectives]