The European Union and its member states have achieved notable progress in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to the latest statistics published by Eurostat. The data reveals that the GHG emission intensity—which measures the amount of emissions associated with one euro of economic output—decreased by 32% at the EU level between 2013 and 2023. During the same period, the EU's gross value added (GVA) increased by 19%, reflecting sustainable economic growth.
Among the member states, Estonia recorded the largest reduction in emissions (61%), followed by Ireland and Slovenia, which achieved reductions of 50% and 41%, respectively. Hungary also delivered outstanding results, surpassing most Western European countries with a 31.6% reduction in emissions.
Sectoral Emission Trends
The energy sector experienced the most significant decline, with emissions dropping by 43%, equivalent to 448 million tons of CO₂. Substantial reductions were also observed in mining and quarrying (25%), services (20%), and manufacturing (17%). In contrast, the transport and storage sector saw a 14% increase in emissions, aligning with global trends. Household emissions also improved, declining by 14.4% over the past decade. At the EU level, total GHG emissions in 2023 amounted to 3.4 billion tons of CO₂ equivalent, marking a 7% decrease compared to the previous year and an 18% reduction since 2013.
Rise of Zero-Emission Vehicles in the EU
According to Eurostat, 1,548,417 new zero-emission passenger cars were registered in the European Union in 2023, accounting for 14.5% of all new vehicle registrations. Sweden (38.6%), Denmark (36.1%), and Finland (33.8%) stood out with exceptionally high adoption rates, while Croatia (2.6%), Slovakia (2.9%), and the Czech Republic (3.1%) lagged.
The number of zero-emission car registrations in 2023 was approximately 70 times higher than in 2013 and 11 times higher than in 2018. The share of newly registered zero-emission buses reached 15.3% of the category, compared to just 0.5% in 2013.
While the 2024 data is yet to be released, forecasts suggest that the EU's stagnant economy and declining consumption and production in Germany could negatively impact the number and proportion of newly registered zero-emission vehicles in the European Union.
Quantifying GHG Emissions
The European Union is responsible for approximately 7.1% of global GHG emissions, while Hungary accounts for just 0.12%.
Climate change is a scientifically recognized global phenomenon, and EU countries are actively working to curb their emissions. The EU has reduced its emissions by over 30% while growing its economy by more than 60%. Hungary's achievements are even more remarkable. The country has legally committed to reducing its GHG emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Preliminary data indicates that Hungary's GHG emissions in 2023 decreased significantly compared to the previous year, marking an overall reduction of 43% relative to the 1990 baseline. By 2023 and 2024, Hungary had not only met but exceeded its 2030 target, all while growing its economy by over 90% in three decades. With this performance, Europe sets an example for countries like China, where emissions are rising alongside GDP growth. Notably, the United States, India, Canada, Australia, and Russia, together with the EU, are responsible for nearly two-thirds of global emissions.
