The European Union is on track towards meeting and overachieving its 2020 target for reducing greenhouse emissions by 20%, according to a new report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

The "Trends and projections in Europe 2015" report reveals that greenhouse gas emissions in Europe decreased by 23% between 1990 and 2014 and reached the lowest levels on record.

Latest projections by Member States show that the EU is heading for a 24% reduction by 2020 with current measures in place, and a 25% reduction with additional measures already being planned in Member States. The EU is already working towards its 2030 goal of an emissions reduction target of at least 40% —the EU's contribution towards the new global climate change agreement in Paris in December.

 EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said:

"These results speak for themselves: Europe succeeded in cutting emissions by 23% between 1990 and 2014 while the European economy grew by 46% over the same period. We have shown consistently that climate protection and economic growth go hand in hand. This is a strong signal ahead of the Paris climate conference that Europe stands by its commitments and that our climate and energy policies work. And we have already taken the first steps towards implementing our Paris pledge with new proposals presented earlier this year."

EEA Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx said that Europe's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy had resulted in concrete gains. However,  the report also shows that to achieve longer-term goals for 2030 and 2050, a fundamental change is needed in the way in which Europe produces and uses energy.

On track towards 2020 greenhouse gas target

The EEA report reveals that according to approximated (‘proxy’) estimates for 2014 greenhouse gas, emissions fell by 4% in 2014 compared to 2013. This was partly due to an unusually warm year, which lowered energy demand. This means the EU’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions were 23% below 1990 levels in 2014.

Latest projections by Member States show the EU is heading for a 24% reduction by 2020 with current measures in place, and a 25% reduction with additional measures already being planned in Member States. The EU is therefore also on track towards its Kyoto Protocol target for the second commitment period from 2013 to 2020.

Progress towards 2030 greenhouse gas target – new EC measures to be put in place

Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are projected to continue beyond 2020 but at a slower pace. According to projections submitted by Member States, the planned reductions are estimated to bring emissions between 27% (with current measures) and 30% (with additional measures already being planned by Member States) below 1990 levels by 2030. According to the European Commission, new policies will therefore need to be put in place to meet the 40% reduction target by 2030.

In his State of the European Union speech, President Juncker said the Commission has already taken the first legislative step towards implementing the EU's 2030 targets with its proposal to revise the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). 

Click here to download EEA report 04/2015 “Trends and projections in Europe 2015"

Click here to download EEA technical report 14/2015 “Trends and projections in the EU ETS in 2015”