Carbon dioxide emissions in the European Union 1965-2022

The European Union produced approximately 2.73 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂) emissions in 2022. This was a slight decline in comparison to the previous year, down from 2.74 GtCO₂. The highest level of CO₂ emissions produced in the EU was in 1979, at 3.99 billion metric tons.

Emissions drop during COVID-19 pandemic

The substantial reduction in emissions in 2020 was a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns and restrictions imposed across the block. EU transportation emissions reduced as travel was severely disrupted, while emissions from industrial activities and power supply were also impacted. In April 2020 - during peak lockdowns - energy-related CO₂ emissions in the EU fell 22 percent compared to the same month in 2019.

Biggest emitters in the EU

The main contributor to CO₂ emissions in the EU is Germany. Despite levels here dropping around 23 percent since 2005, Germany still emits considerably more emissions than other big emitters in the union, such as France, Italy and Poland. This is mostly due to Germany's energy mix being reliant on coal. Coal is the dirtiest of all fossil fuels, emitting approximately 50 percent more CO₂ than natural gas.