EU greenhouse gas emissions hit a low near 2020 emission reduction target

According to official data from the European Environment Agency, EU greenhouse gas emissions continued to fall by 1.3% in 2012, down 19.2% from 1990 greenhouse gas emission levels.It seems that the EU's target of 20% emission reduction in 2020 is within reach.

In its final report on greenhouse gas emissions for 2012 submitted to the United Nations, the European Environment Agency pointed out that since 1990, the EU's greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by 1,082 tons, more than the combined greenhouse gas emissions in Italy and the United Kingdom in 2012.Relying on its own various measures, the EU is already very close to its 2020 climate and energy targets.

The first 15 EU member states also signed the Kyoto Protocol, promising to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions from each country by 8% from 2008 to 2012.Without taking into account the carbon sinks or quotas provided by the flexible trading mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, these countries actually reduced their emissions by an average of 11.8% during this period, which was greater than Spain's carbon emissions for the whole year of 2012.

The decline in EU greenhouse gas emissions is mainly attributed to emission reductions in the transportation and industrial sectors, as well as the increase in renewable energy use.

The substantial emission reduction in the transportation and industrial sectors made Italy's emission reduction account for 45% of the entire EU in 2012.Poland has become the second largest country to reduce carbon emissions due to the reduction in solid fuel consumption.In contrast, the increase in solid fuel usage in the UK and Germany caused their greenhouse gas emissions to rise instead of falling.

The EU Environmental Protection Agency's emission trend analysis report shows that 30% of the total greenhouse gas changes since 1990 are caused by GDP caused by changes.During the recession (including 2008-2012), nearly 50% of the EU's overall emission reduction was made GDP caused by changes.Of course, there are other factors that have important impacts on emission reduction, including strong growth in renewable energy consumption and improved energy efficiency.

Although the annual average greenhouse gas emissions are GDP It is closely related, but compared with 1990, the relationship between the two now shows a trend of separation.Since 1990, the EU GDP Up 45%, but greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 19%, making the EU's emission intensity (i.e. every euro created GDP The greenhouse gas emissions (greenhouse gases) dropped by 50%, and the EU's per capita carbon emissions also dropped from 12 tons in 1990 to 9 tons.

Hans Brunix, Executive Director, European Environment Agency ( HansBruyninckx） "The EU's achievements show that there is no conflict between economic growth and emission reduction, and the key to success lies in policy.We can do better, of course, depending on the ability of member states to implement various policies toward a low-carbon, safe energy society.”

According to data from the EU carbon emission trading system and preliminary estimates by the European Office of Statistics, the downward trend of EU carbon emissions will continue.This fall, the European Environment Agency and the European Commission's Environmental Division will jointly release the official report on greenhouse gas emissions from the EU in 2013.(Ma Xiaofang)