LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – In the first quarter of 2026, greenhouse gas emissions within the European Union edged upward. Eurostat reported seasonally adjusted emissions at 837 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, representing a 0.3% rise from the previous quarter. After revision, the total for the fourth quarter was 835 million tonnes. During the same period, EU gross domestic product experienced no quarterly growth, providing a direct comparison between economic output and emission levels.
Contrary to the quarterly trend, the year-on-year comparison showed a decline. Greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 1.2% compared with the first quarter of 2025, while EU GDP increased by 0.8%. The data encompass carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases, measured in a common CO2-equivalent. This quarterly series tracks emissions from economic activities and households across all 27 member states, with adjustments made for seasonal patterns.
Among the main sectors, activity related to energy experienced the most significant quarterly rise. Emissions from electricity, gas, steam, and air-conditioning supply grew by 4.8%, and water and waste activities increased by 0.7%. Conversely, household emissions declined by 1.3%. Manufacturing, construction, as well as transportation and storage, each saw a decrease of 0.6%. Manufacturing remained the largest source listed, contributing 20.8% to total emissions, followed closely by households at 20.2%.
Most EU countries see quarterly increases in emissions
During the first quarter, emissions rose in 20 EU member states and fell in seven. Estonia experienced the largest increase at 9.7%, with Finland at 6.4% and Bulgaria at 4.6%. These rises were partly driven by higher emissions from construction and energy supply. The biggest decline was recorded in Slovenia at 5.0%, with Luxembourg decreasing by 3.8% and Romania dropping by 2.7% compared to the previous quarter.
In most countries where emissions increased, economic output also grew. Out of the 20 nations with higher greenhouse gas emissions, 18 reported GDP growth during the quarter. Among the seven countries that reduced emissions, Spain, Greece, France, and Slovenia maintained or increased their economic activity. These figures demonstrate how emissions and GDP trends aligned across individual economies in the first three months of 2026.
Longer-term declines keep annual totals below 2015 figures
Annual data indicate a sustained reduction in emissions across the bloc. In 2025, the EU’s economy and households emitted approximately 3.3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, which is 17.2% below the total recorded in 2015. These annual figures include emissions from businesses, public activities, and households, providing a broader perspective than the quarterly data, which focus on short-term shifts in economic activity and energy consumption.
Thus, the first-quarter numbers reflect a slight increase from late 2025 but show a decline compared to the same period a year earlier. The European Union recorded higher annual economic output while greenhouse gas emissions moved lower over the same timeframe. The latest dataset indicates wide variation across sectors and member states, with energy supply contributing to the largest sector increase and several countries experiencing measurable reductions.