LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – During the first quarter of 2026, emissions of greenhouse gases from the European Union’s economy experienced a marginal rise. Eurostat reported seasonally adjusted emissions at 837 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, representing a 0.3% increase from the previous quarter. After revision, the fourth-quarter total stood at 835 million tonnes. Throughout this period, EU gross domestic product did not register any quarterly growth, allowing for a direct comparison between economic performance and emission levels.
Contrary to the quarterly trend, the year-on-year data indicated a different pattern. Greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 1.2% compared with the first quarter of 2025, even as EU GDP grew by 0.8%. The figures encompass carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases, all measured using a common CO2-equivalent scale. The quarterly series monitors emissions from economic activities and households across all 27 member states, adjusting for seasonal fluctuations.
Among the key sectors, energy-related activities experienced the most significant quarterly growth. Emissions from electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply increased by 4.8%, while water and waste management activities rose by 0.7%. Conversely, household emissions declined by 1.3%. Manufacturing, construction, and transportation and storage each saw a reduction of 0.6%. Manufacturing remained the leading contributor, representing 20.8% of total emissions, followed closely by households at 20.2%.
Most EU nations record quarterly increases
In the first quarter, 20 member states of the European Union saw their emissions rise, while seven experienced declines. Estonia led the increases with 9.7%, followed by Finland at 6.4% and Bulgaria at 4.6%. These rises were primarily driven by higher emissions from construction and energy supply sectors. Slovenia recorded the largest decrease at 5.0%, with Luxembourg falling 3.8% and Romania down 2.7% compared to the previous quarter.
Most of the countries with rising emissions also saw their economic output grow. Eighteen of the 20 nations with increased greenhouse gas emissions reported GDP growth during the same period. Among the seven nations that reduced emissions, Spain, Greece, France, and Slovenia maintained or increased their economic activity. The data illustrate how emissions and GDP dynamics moved together within individual economies during the first three months of 2026.
Annual totals continue to stay below 2015 figures
Looking at annual data, the longer-term trend shows a decline in emissions across the bloc. In 2025, the EU’s economy and household greenhouse gas emissions totaled roughly 3.3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, a 17.2% reduction from 2015 levels. These annual figures cover emissions from businesses, public activities, and households, providing a broader perspective compared to the quarterly data that focus on short-term changes in economic activity and energy consumption.
Thus, the first-quarter data reflects a slight increase from late 2025 but a decrease compared to the same period last year. The European Union experienced higher economic output on an annual basis, while greenhouse gas emissions declined during the same timeframe. Quarterly GDP remained unchanged from the previous three months, and the latest data reveal notable differences across sectors and member states, with energy supply driving the largest sector increase, and several countries recording measurable reductions.