Transportation GHG emissions in the European Union - Statistics & Facts
The European Union has successfully cut emissions across all economic sectors in recent decades, except for one — transportation. Since hitting a peak in 2007, EU emissions from transportation have been reduced roughly three times slower than the rest of the economy. Now, emitting more than one billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO₂e) each year, transportation from domestic and international transportation has become the biggest source of emissions in the EU.
Can the EU address mobility emissions and achieve its goal of becoming a net-zero economy by 2050, or will the sector continue to undermine the progress made in other parts of the economy?
The largest annual reduction in transportation emissions since 1990 occurred in 2020, when reduced activity during the COVID-19 pandemic caused levels to plummet 20 percent year-on-year. While emissions have rebounded since then, they have remained below pre-pandemic levels, and are expected to stay below this threshold.
A range of measures to eradicate mobility emissions have been outlined, but it is projected that transportation could account for almost half of EU-wide emissions in 2030 with current policies under the Green Package deal. As such, the EU will likely miss its net-zero target without additional measures for the sector.
Can the EU address mobility emissions and achieve its goal of becoming a net-zero economy by 2050, or will the sector continue to undermine the progress made in other parts of the economy?
EU transportation emissions have peaked, but remain high
In 2022, EU-wide transportation-related GHG emissions increased by seven percent from the previous year, to 1.04 MtCO₂e. This represents annual emissions growth of over 25 percent compared to 1990 levels. In comparison, emissions from the energy supply sector decreased by more than 40 percent during this same period.The largest annual reduction in transportation emissions since 1990 occurred in 2020, when reduced activity during the COVID-19 pandemic caused levels to plummet 20 percent year-on-year. While emissions have rebounded since then, they have remained below pre-pandemic levels, and are expected to stay below this threshold.
Cars are the EU’s biggest transportation polluters
In 2022, road vehicles emitted around 755 MtCO₂ throughout the EU. This not only accounted for three-quarters of transportation sector emissions that year, but also made them the bloc’s biggest carbon polluters. Internal combustion engine cars are the sector’s largest source of emissions by far, accounting for more than 40 percent . Despite vast improvements in vehicle efficiency and improved standards over the years, tailpipe emissions from passenger cars have remained high, at almost 500 MtCO₂ per year, due to factors like growing vehicle numbers across the continent and increasing distances traveled. Nevertheless, car emissions have risen at a slower rate than other road vehicles since 1990, with climate pollution from light-duty vehicles rising 56 percent over this period, against 17 percent for cars.Decarbonizing the transportation sector
Tackling transportation emissions is a main focus point on the EU's road to achieving its climate ambitions. The shift away from fossil fuels to clean alternative fuels and electrification will be crucial for this to happen, with electric cars set to play a key role in decarbonizing the sector. The uptake of battery electric vehicles (BEVS) has grown recently, and in 2023, accounted for 14 percent of new car registrations. To ensure this growth continues, member states formally approved a new law requiring all new cars and vans placed on the market in the EU to be zero-emissions by 2035. Additionally, a second emissions trading system, the EU ETS II, will become operational in 2027 and put a carbon price on road transportation, creating stronger incentives to reduce emissions from this sector. The original EU ETS was also extended in 2024 to cover the maritime industry, while the aviation sector has been included since 2012.A range of measures to eradicate mobility emissions have been outlined, but it is projected that transportation could account for almost half of EU-wide emissions in 2030 with current policies under the Green Package deal. As such, the EU will likely miss its net-zero target without additional measures for the sector.
