LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In the first quarter of 2026, greenhouse gas emissions within the European Union experienced a marginal rise. Eurostat indicated that seasonally adjusted emissions reached 837 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, reflecting a 0.3% increase from the previous quarter. The revised total for the fourth quarter was 835 million tonnes. During this same period, the EU’s gross domestic product showed no quarterly growth, providing a direct comparison between economic activity and emission levels.
On an annual basis, the trend moved in the opposite direction. Greenhouse gas emissions declined by 1.2% compared to the first quarter of 2025, even as EU GDP grew by 0.8%. The data encompass carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases, all measured using a common CO2-equivalent metric. This quarterly series monitors emissions from economic activities and household sources across all 27 member states, adjusting for seasonal variations.
Among the primary sectors, energy-related operations experienced the most significant quarterly increase. Emissions from electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply rose by 4.8%, while water and waste management activities increased by 0.7%. Conversely, household emissions fell by 1.3%. The manufacturing, construction, and transportation and storage sectors each saw declines of 0.6%. Manufacturing remained the largest contributor, accounting for 20.8% of total emissions, with households close behind at 20.2%.
Most EU nations see quarterly emission increases
During the first quarter, 20 EU member states experienced rises in emissions, while seven recorded decreases. Estonia led the increase with 9.7%, followed by Finland at 6.4%, and Bulgaria at 4.6%. Elevated emissions in construction and energy supply were primary factors behind these increases. Slovenia recorded the largest decline at 5.0%, with Luxembourg down 3.8%, and Romania decreasing by 2.7% from the previous quarter.
Most of these countries also saw economic growth during the same period. Eighteen of the 20 nations with higher emissions reported GDP increases during the quarter. Among the seven countries that reduced emissions, Spain, Greece, France, and Slovenia either maintained or increased their economic output. These figures illustrate how emissions and GDP moved in tandem across various economies during the first three months of 2026.
Long-term decline keeps emissions below 2015 levels
Annual figures reveal a sustained reduction in emissions across the European Union. In 2025, greenhouse gas emissions from the economy and households totaled approximately 3.3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This figure is 17.2% lower than the total recorded in 2015. These annual statistics encompass emissions from businesses, public services, and households, providing a broader perspective than the quarterly data, which focus on short-term fluctuations in energy consumption and economic activity.
While the first-quarter data indicate a slight rise from late 2025, they also show a decrease compared to the same period last year. The European Union experienced higher overall economic output on an annual basis, even as greenhouse gas emissions declined. The latest dataset confirms that quarterly GDP remained unchanged from the previous three months. Sector and country-specific differences are notable, with energy supply driving the largest sector increase, whereas several nations recorded measurable reductions in emissions.