EEA Report 11/2024

Climate change is affecting the planet in many ways: extreme heat and changing rainfall patterns are reshaping the physical environment and are also impacting people′s food and water security, energy supply, financial stability and health. Over the past year, global temperatures have consistently exceeded the 1.5°C threshold (Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2024), approaching the level of the 1.5°C long-term target set by the Paris agreement. Europe is the world′s fastest-warming continent, which poses significant climate risks to the well-being of citizens across Europe, as shown earlier this year in the EU′s first climate risk assessment (EEA, 2024c). These findings underscore the urgent need to improve societal preparedness and enhance resilience to climate change.

Alongside the need to rapidly adapt to the changing climate, the accelerating pace of climate change highlights the imperative to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Since 1990, global GHG emissions have risen by more than 60%. In contrast to this global development, the EU has demonstrated that it is possible to cut emissions by over one third while maintaining economic growth. Together, the EU countries are committed to become climate neutral by 2050 at the latest and aim to achieve negative emissions thereafter. This report provides an overview of Europe′s progress towards this goal with a focus on progress to the EU′s intermediate 2030 climate and energy targets. The analysis is based on the most recent data reported by Member States following the adoption of the Fit for 55 legislative package and verified by the European Environment Agency (EEA), as well as other sources.

In 2023, EU total net GHG emissions decreased to 37% below 1990 levels compared to a 31% decrease in 2022, according to preliminary figures. This estimate is based on Member State reports and applies the EU climate target scope as defined in the European Climate Law (EU, 2021), including net removals from the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector as well as emissions from international aviation and maritime transport activities regulated under EU law. The emissions reduction in 2023 represents the largest year-on-year reduction in several decades, if 2020 is excluded due to the impact of COVID-19.

The Technical annex about EU climate and energy data and targets can be downloaded here.

The report was prepared on behalf of the European Environment Agency, as partner of the ETC on Climate Change Mitigation and Energy (ETC/CME).