Europe on track to smash its 2020 climate goal, EEA says

(EurActiv, 30 Nov 2020) Greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union dropped by 3.7% last year, bringing the bloc on track to smash its 2020 emission goals by 4 percentage points, according to the European Environment Agency.

Emissions have been steadily declining in the EU, falling to 24% below 1990 levels in 2019, according to the EEA trends and projections report 2020, which tracks progress towards the EU’s climate and energy goals.

The 24% cut in emissions is significantly higher than the 20% target agreed by the European Union for 2020, says the report, published on Monday (30 November).

“This highlights the results of effective climate policies implemented across the EU and shows that it is clearly possible to achieve more ambitious reduction targets by 2030, paving the way for a climate neutral EU by 2050,” the EEA said in a statement.

Preliminary data also suggests 19.4% of total energy consumed in the EU-27 last year came from renewable sources like hydro, biomass, wind and solar power.

“The EU is therefore on track to the 2020 target of a minimum 20% share,” the EEA said.

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EurActiv, 30 Nov 2020: Europe on track to smash its 2020 climate goal, EEA says