What is the EU’s greenhouse gas footprint per capita

In 2023, the greenhouse gas footprint of goods and services consumed in the EU amounted to 9.0 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents per capita, down approximately 1 tonne compared with 2022 (10.0 tonnes).

This indicator considers emissions generated throughout the production chains of products consumed in the EU, regardless of where they occur and therefore includes emissions embedded in imported goods and services.

Among EU countries, the lowest greenhouse gas footprints were recorded in Portugal (6.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per capita), Bulgaria (6.8 tonnes) and Sweden and Romania (each 6.9 tonnes).

By contrast, the highest footprints per capita were recorded in Cyprus (14.8 tonnes), Ireland (14.0 tonnes) and Luxembourg (12.7 tonnes).

Source dataset: cli_gge_foot

EU production emissions lower than the greenhouse gas footprint

In 2023, the total greenhouse gas footprint of all goods and services consumed in the EU reached 4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalents. At the same time, emissions generated by production in the EU amounted to 3.3 billion tonnes.

Both consumption and production-based greenhouse gas emissions decreased from 2013 to 2023, by 12.9% and 18.6%, respectively. However, in 2020, there was a sharp drop in emissions due to the pandemic but by 2023, the greenhouse gas consumption emissions were at the same level as in 2020, while the production-based emissions had further declined by 3.5%.

Source dataset: cli_gge_foot