LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In the European Union, greenhouse gas emissions saw a modest uptick during the first three months of 2026. Eurostat reported seasonally adjusted emissions at 837 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, representing a 0.3% rise 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 remained flat, providing a direct comparison between economic activity and emissions.
Looking at the year-on-year comparison, the trend was opposite. Greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 1.2% compared to the first quarter of 2025, while EU GDP grew by 0.8%. These figures encompass carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases, all measured in a common CO2-equivalent metric. The quarterly data monitor emissions from both economic activities and households across all 27 member states, with seasonal adjustments applied.
Among the major sectors, energy-related activities experienced the most significant quarterly increase. Emissions from electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply surged 4.8%, whereas water and waste management activities went up 0.7%. Conversely, household emissions declined by 1.3%. Manufacturing, construction, and transportation and storage each registered a decrease of 0.6%. Manufacturing remained the primary source, contributing 20.8% of total emissions, with households close behind at 20.2%.
Most EU nations see quarterly rises
During the first quarter, emissions increased in 20 EU member states and fell in seven. Estonia experienced the largest growth at 9.7%, followed by Finland at 6.4%, and Bulgaria at 4.6%. These rises were largely driven by higher emissions from construction and energy supply. Conversely, Slovenia saw the most notable decline at 5.0%, while Luxembourg decreased by 3.8%, and Romania by 2.7% from the previous quarter.
In most countries where emissions increased, economic output also rose. Eighteen of the 20 nations with higher greenhouse gas emissions reported GDP growth during the same period. Among the seven countries with reduced emissions, Spain, Greece, France, and Slovenia recorded either stable or higher economic activity. These national figures illustrate how emissions and GDP trends aligned across different economies in the first quarter of 2026.
Annual totals remain beneath 2015 levels
Annual data indicate a longer-term decline in emissions across the EU. In 2025, the combined greenhouse gas emissions from the economy and households totaled approximately 3.3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, which is 17.2% lower than the total recorded in 2015. These yearly figures include emissions from businesses, public sector activities, and households, offering a broader view than the quarterly snapshots focused on short-term shifts in energy use and economic activity.
Thus, the first-quarter figures show a slight increase from late 2025 but a decrease compared to a year earlier. While the European Union experienced higher annual economic output, greenhouse gas emissions continued to decline during the same span. The latest data also reveal significant variations among sectors and member states, with energy supply contributing most to the sectoral increase and several nations recording measurable reductions.