Updated Government’s reaction added below: In 2012, CO2 emissions in the EU27 are expected to have decreased by 2.1% compared with 2011. Eurostat estimates that from 2011 to 2012 CO2 emissions decreased in nearly all Member States, except Malta +6.3%, which had the highest increase in the EU, it was followed by the UK at +3.9%.

Eurostat reported that in 2012 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion decreased by 2.1% in the EU27, compared with the previous year, after a fall of 4.1% in 2011. CO2 emissions are a major contributor to global warming and account for around 80% of all EU greenhouse gas emissions.

These are influenced by factors such as climate conditions, economic growth, size of the population, transport and industrial activities, while various EU energy efficiency initiatives aim to reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

Today, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published for the first time early estimates of CO2 emissions from energy use for 2012. These early estimates are released only five months after the end of the reference year by using monthly energy statistics.

CO2 emissions fell in twenty-three Member States in 2012

In 2012, the Member State with the highest level of CO2 emissions in absolute terms was Germany (728 million tons), followed by the United Kingdom (472 mn tons), Italy (366 mn tons), France (332 mn tons), Poland (297 mn tons) and Spain (258 mn tons). These six Member States accounted together for more than 70% of total EU27 CO2 emissions in 2012. Malta was 2.7mn tons.

Eurostat estimates that from 2011 to 2012 CO2 emissions decreased in nearly all Member States, except Malta (+6.3%), the United Kingdom (+3.9%), Lithuania (+1.7%) and Germany (+0.9%).

The largest decreases were recorded in Belgium and Finland (both -11.8%), Sweden (-10.1%), Denmark (-9.4%), Cyprus (-8.5%), Bulgaria (-6.9%), Slovakia (-6.5%), the Czech Republic (-5.2%), Italy and Poland (both -5.1%).

Update: In a statement this evening the Government said that the statistics published today by Eurostat, showing CO2 emissions for the year 2012, confirms the urgent need for Malta to alter their energy system to one of gas generated technology.

The Government went on to say that these statistics show “the lack of concrete action taken by the preceding administration in decreasing emissions and steering towards alternative and cleaner energy.”

The Government concluded that it is committed to increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources, which together will result in a decrease of emissions.

Permalink: Malta has highest increase in CO2 emissions for energy use