Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in the EU-27 1990-2020, by country

Luxembourg had the highest per capita GHG emissions in the European Union in 2020, at 14.4 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per inhabitant. Luxembourg’s per capita GHG emissions are roughly double the average EU per capita GHG emissions. Nevertheless, per capita emissions in Luxembourg have fallen 57 percent since 1990. Most EU member countries have experienced a reduction in per capita emissions since 1990.

EU emissions reductions

EU GHG emissions (including UK and Iceland) fell nine percent in 2020, to 3,708 MtCO2e. This considerable reduction was caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 and its subsequent impacts on polluting industry sectors. As such, EU emissions have fallen by 34 percent since 1990, overshooting the bloc's climate target of a 20 percent reduction by 2020, relative to 1990 levels.

Energy sector emissions

One of the biggest factors for the reduction in EU GHG emissions is the decline in energy sector emissions. Since 1990, annual energy supply related emissions have reduced by more than 35 percent. Further reductions are expected in the sector as renewable energy in the EU continues to grow.