The figures published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that greenhouse gas emissions from the European Union (EU) fell by 2.5% last year. The EEA highlights that the main reasons for the decrease in emissions were a milder winter in most parts of the EU, which resulted in lower heating demand from households, and reduced natural gas consumption.

The new estimates from the European Environment Agency (EEA) on greenhouse gas emissions from the European Union (EU) show that they fell by 2.5% in 2011, despite higher coal consumption and a growing gross domestic product (GDP). The main reasons for the decrease in emissions were, according to EEA, a milder winter in most parts of the EU, which resulted in lower heating demand from households, and reduced natural gas consumption. Renewable energy consumption also continued to increase in 2011, which contributed to the observed decrease in emissions. In contrast, in 2009, greenhouse gas emissions rose more than expected.

In the 15 Member States with a common commitment under the Kyoto Protocol, emissions fell even further going down by 3.5% between 2010 and 2011. Based on these EEA estimates, EU 2011 emissions stand approximately 17.5% below the 1990 level. The EU-15 stands 14.1% below the base-year level under the Kyoto Protocol.

Emissions under the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) were cut by 1.8% in 2011. The economic sectors not covered by the EU ETS reduced emissions by approximately 3.1%. The sectors contributing most to lower emissions in the European Union in 2011 were households and the service sector. The transport sector also contributed by reducing emissions for the fourth consecutive year.