Environment and emissions in the EU

Greenhouse gas emissions per person

Greenhouse gas emissions per person in the EU were 6.72 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person in 2024, down 2.7% from 2023.

Of 27 EU countries in 2024, Luxembourg had the most greenhouse gas emissions per person (11.16 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person) and Malta the fewest (3.85 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person).

Highest and lowest EU countries

• Luxembourg11.16 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
• Ireland10.08 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
• Poland9.31 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person

• Portugal4.84 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
• Sweden4.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person
• Malta3.85 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: Invokely, Greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (EEA via Eurostat env_air_gge) divided by population on 1 January (Eurostat demo_r_pjanaggr3).

Municipal waste recycling rate

Municipal waste recycling rate in the EU was 48.1% in 2024, up 0.2 percentage points from 2023.

Of 27 EU countries in 2023, Germany had the highest municipal waste recycling rate (68.7%) and Romania the lowest (12.4%).

Highest and lowest EU countries

• Germany68.7%
• Austria62.8%
• Slovenia59.8%

• Bulgaria16.7%
• Cyprus15.8%
• Romania12.4%

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: Eurostat, European Commission, Recycling rate of municipal waste (cei_wm011).

CO2 emissions from energy consumption

Of 27 EU countries in 2024, Germany had the most CO2 emissions from energy consumption (575.9 million tonnes of CO2) and Estonia the fewest (4.6 million tonnes of CO2).

Highest and lowest EU countries

• Germany575.9 million tonnes of CO2
• Italy292 million tonnes of CO2
• France291.3 million tonnes of CO2

• Cyprus7 million tonnes of CO2
• Latvia6.2 million tonnes of CO2
• Estonia4.6 million tonnes of CO2

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics: CO2 emissions from the consumption of energy, million metric tonnes (series INTL.4008-8-MMTCD.A).

Methane emissions

Of 27 EU countries in 2025, France had the most methane emissions (2,283.2 thousand tonnes of methane) and Malta the fewest (8.6 thousand tonnes of methane).

Highest and lowest EU countries

• France2,283.2 thousand tonnes of methane
• Germany1,894.1 thousand tonnes of methane
• Italy1,595 thousand tonnes of methane

• Cyprus41.8 thousand tonnes of methane
• Luxembourg23.1 thousand tonnes of methane
• Malta8.6 thousand tonnes of methane

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, EDGAR CH4 emissions by country, thousand tonnes (Gg) of methane.

Nitrous oxide emissions

Of 27 EU countries in 2025, France had the most nitrous oxide emissions (119.67 thousand tonnes of nitrous oxide) and Malta the fewest (0.19 thousand tonnes of nitrous oxide).

Highest and lowest EU countries

• France119.67 thousand tonnes of nitrous oxide
• Germany115.2 thousand tonnes of nitrous oxide
• Poland88.87 thousand tonnes of nitrous oxide

• Cyprus1.15 thousand tonnes of nitrous oxide
• Luxembourg0.88 thousand tonnes of nitrous oxide
• Malta0.19 thousand tonnes of nitrous oxide

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, EDGAR N2O emissions by country, thousand tonnes (Gg) of nitrous oxide.

Fluorinated gas emissions

Of 27 EU countries in 2024, France had the most fluorinated gas emissions (9.13 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent) and Luxembourg the fewest (0.05 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent).

Highest and lowest EU countries

• France9.13 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Germany8.73 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Italy7.3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

• Malta0.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Estonia0.19 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Luxembourg0.05 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, EDGAR F-gases emissions by country, AR5 CO2 equivalent (HFC, PFC, SF6 and NF3).

Greenhouse gas emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions in the EU were 3,017.19 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024, down 2.3% from 2023.

Of 27 EU countries in 2024, Germany had the most greenhouse gas emissions (649.77 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent) and Malta the fewest (2.17 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent).

Highest and lowest EU countries

• Germany649.77 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• France367.02 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Italy363.49 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

• Cyprus8.83 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Luxembourg7.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Malta2.17 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: Eurostat, European Commission, Greenhouse gas emissions by source sector, total excluding LULUCF and memo items, million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (env_air_gge, source: EEA).

Greenhouse gas emissions from energy

Greenhouse gas emissions from energy in the EU were 2,283.21 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024, down 2.7% from 2023.

Of 27 EU countries in 2024, Germany had the most greenhouse gas emissions from energy (543.29 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent) and Malta the fewest (1.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent).

Highest and lowest EU countries

• Germany543.29 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Italy294.53 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Poland281.53 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

• Cyprus6.37 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Latvia6.23 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent
• Malta1.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: Eurostat, European Commission, Greenhouse gas emissions by source sector, energy (CRF 1), million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (env_air_gge, source: EEA).