Cyprus: Cyprus has recorded a notable 28.9% drop in greenhouse gas emissions intensity from 2013 to 2024, based on data released by Eurostat, the European Statistical Office.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the EU as a whole saw its greenhouse gas emissions decrease by 20%, while gross value added rose by 20%, leading to an overall reduction in emissions intensity of 34%. Countries like Luxembourg, Lithuania, and Austria showed moderate improvements in reducing emissions intensity, with decreases of 14%, 18%, and 20% respectively. Estonia, Ireland, and Finland experienced the largest reductions, with drops of 64%, 50%, and 44%. Malta, conversely, noted a 17% increase in emissions intensity compared to 2013.
Eurostat's report also highlights that in 2024, the EU's total greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 3.3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, marking a 1% decrease from 2023 and a 20% decrease from 2013. In Cyprus, the energy sector, including electricity and gas supply, remains the primary source of emissions, making up over 40% of the nation's total emissions, a trend similar to that in Estonia.
Across the EU, the primary sources of emissions vary by country. In Latvia, agriculture contributes around 30% of total emissions. In nine EU countries, manufacturing is the leading emitter, while in six countries, the transport and storage sector is the largest contributor to emissions, as seen in Denmark, Malta, and Luxembourg, where it accounts for over 50% of emissions.
At the EU level, the electricity and gas sector showed the most significant improvement in emissions intensity per employment from 2013 to 2024, with a 53% reduction. This was followed by the services sector, excluding transport and storage, with a 25% reduction, and manufacturing with a 20% reduction. Conversely, agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors experienced a 21% increase in emissions intensity per employment.
The advancements in the energy sector are attributed to an 8% increase in hours worked coupled with a 49% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, indicating ongoing efforts toward decarbonisation. Manufacturing also demonstrated a similar trend, although the changes in both emissions and employment were less pronounced.