Brussels – A new report from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has found that whilst CO2 emissions have remained level in the EU, economies have continued to grow. Whilst the EU economy has grown by around 1.9% each year, CO2 emissions have correspondingly been rising at an average of 0.2%.
The data suggests a level of decoupling in the European economy with economic growth not having a corresponding environmental impact. The worldwide trend saw emissions rises of 0.5% against growth of around 3%.
CO2 emissions have been falling primarily as a result of the decline of coal and the uptake of renewables energy technologies. The trend also reflects more efficient use of energy and a move towards knowledge based economies.
The report shows that EU CO2 emissions are 20.8% lower than 1990 base levels, and 17.9% lower than in 2005.
Click here to read the report, ‘Fossil CO2 & GHG emissions of all world countries’.Policy