Environment Energy Mining Watch SEE|News|In the year before the pandemic, harmful emissions from European power plants and factories dropped significantly

In the year before the pandemic, harmful emissions from European power plants and factories dropped significantly

, News

The decline in emissions from power plants and factories is the result of a major shift in the transition to other sources of electricity production.

Emissions from EU ETS plants fell 9.1 percent year-on-year to 1,530 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2), the Copenhagen-based European Environment Agency (EEA) said. This is the largest annual decrease since 2009. Compared to 2005, emissions have fallen by 35 percent, but a further significant reduction is needed to achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2050, experts warn.

A completely different situation in 2019 was recorded in air transport, whose emissions are also covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). According to the Environmental Protection Agency, aviation emissions rose by one percent, reflecting the growing demand for flights before the coronavirus crisis.

The European Union is giving up coal, which, according to the EEA, is becoming less and less attractive due to rising carbon dioxide prices. Instead, the share of renewable energies, such as wind and solar energy, is increasing. Many countries have also switched from coal to natural gas, which is also a fossil fuel but produces less carbon dioxide than coal when burned.

“The European Union’s energy system is rapidly decarbonising,” the EEA said. Partly due to the coronavirus crisis, a further decline is expected in 2020 as well.

Source: glasistre.hr

 

 

 

Download PDF

LATEST NEWS

error: Content is protected !!