Published : Dec 20,
2012 Last modified : Dec 20, 2012 11:38
AM
Households and industry in the EU each cause
approximately a quarter of energy-related
greenhouse gas emissions, according to a
new report by the European Environment Agency
(EEA). The two sectors were largely responsible
for the emissions increase in 2010, together
leading to an additional 90 million tonnes
of CO2 equivalent compared to 2009.
The report considers
the 40 % of greenhouse emissions originating
from energy industries such as heating plants,
power stations and refineries. These emissions
are then reallocated to the ‘end-users’
of the energy. The main objective is to
help improve the understanding of the demand
leading to greenhouse gas emissions.
Between 2009 and 2010 fossil fuel combustion
was responsible for an increase of over
100 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in
the EU, partly due to an economic rebound
in many EU Member States. This is reflected
in the new EEA analysis. In 2010, approximately
50% of the net increase in energy-related
emissions was driven by higher industrial
activity, particularly in the iron and steel
sector.
Another reason for the emissions increase
in 2010 was a colder winter, resulting in
an increase in a demand for heating. The
residential sector represented almost 40%
of the net increase in energy-related greenhouse
gas emissions. In addition, households used
more electricity in 2010 compared to 2009,
leading to higher emissions.
End-use greenhouse gas emissions from energy
use in EU-27 in 2010
Trends in greenhouse gas emissions by end-use
sector in EU-27, 2005-2010
Additional findings
In the commercial and residential sectors,
indirect emissions are higher than the direct
combustion emissions attributed to these
sectors. This is largely because of electricity
supplied by thermal power stations and district
heating (from centralised heating plants)
in some areas.
In transport, most emissions are emitted
directly from the vehicle exhaust pipe,
so there is a relatively small change when
the indirect emissions are taken into account.
Beside the emissions from petroleum refining,
other indirect emissions in the transport
sector come from power plants which generate
electricity used by electric trains.
‘Other sectors’ include the indirect emissions
from imports and exports of energy between
countries, for example in the electricity
trade. In some EU Member States there is
a larger effect than in others, highlighting
the relative importance of trade in energy
for these countries. These effects can also
vary significantly from year to year.
The 2012 report includes for the first time
information on indirect emissions of two
air pollutants, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and
sulphur oxides (SOx) distributed to the
end-user sectors. It also provides new diagrams
for 27 Member States, Norway and Switzerland.
Notes for editors
The results in the EEA report are based
on the official 2012 greenhouse gas inventory
submissions to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and
energy balance data reported to Eurostat.
Every year in May the EEA publishes the
EU greenhouse gas emissions inventory for
the calendar year two years prior to the
publication date, or ‘year x-2’. This follows
the final submission of data to the UNFCCC.
In early autumn the EEA publishes the proxy
greenhouse gas inventory for year x-1. This
report gives an early analysis of emissions
trends and allows an up-to-date assessment
of actual progress towards emission targets.
The end-user report is a more recent addition
to the EEA’s regular analysis of greenhouse
gas trends. This also uses data from year
x-2 as the method is based on the official
inventory and energy balances, which are
only available for year x-2.
+ More
Most car manufacturers
on track to meet 2012 CO2 targets
Published : Dec 11,
2012 Last modified : Dec 12, 2012 09:31
AM
In 2011, average CO2 vehicle emissions for
most carmakers were below target levels
estimated for 2012. This was the situation
for 47 carmakers, responsible for 95% of
the new cars registered in the EU in 2011,
according to the latest European Environment
Agency (EEA) analysis.
The transport sector
needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
by 68 % between 2010 and 2050. This objective
cannot be met with technical improvements
alone, it will also require a significant
reduction in transport demand and a shift
to greener transport modes.
EEA Executive Director
Jacqueline McGlade
The findings come from
the EEA report, CO2 emissions performance
of car manufacturers in 2011.
The EU has a target for the average new
passenger car to emit less than 130 grams
of carbon dioxide per kilometre (g CO2/km)
by 2015. Within this overall target individual
manufacturers have specific targets, calculated
using the average mass of their fleet. This
means that the vehicle fleet can stay diversified
by allowing higher emissions from heavier
cars than from lighter vehicles.
The targets will be gradually phased in
to apply to an increasing proportion of
cars - 65 % of the fleet is taken into account
for 2012 targets, rising to 100 % in 2015.
Manufacturers have a long-term target of
95 g CO2/km by 2020.
According to EU legislation, manufacturers
can pool their fleets to receive a collective
target, and smaller manufacturers can apply
for special derogations. In 2011, 20 derogations
were granted and all declared pools were
in line with the estimated 2012 targets.
Next year the EEA will publish data showing
whether the targets were met in 2012. If
carmakers do not meet the targets, they
will have to pay ‘excess emissions premiums’.
“Some carmakers have made deep efficiency
improvements in recent years, showing what
is possible,” EEA Executive Director Jacqueline
McGlade said. “However, the transport sector
needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
by 68 % between 2010 and 2050. This objective
cannot be met with technical improvements
alone, it will also require a significant
reduction in transport demand and a shift
to greener transport modes.”
Key findings
All major car manufacturers reduced their
emissions between 2010 and 2011. The average
EU emissions of all cars registered in 2011
were 135.7 g CO2/km. Only 65% of the least
emitting vehicles in each fleet is considered
for compliance with the 2012 targets.
Total fleet average emissions among the
major manufacturers ranged from the Fiat
group’s 118 g CO2/km to the highest average
level for Daimler, at 153 g CO2/km. In 2011
both manufacturers were, nonetheless, below
their individual 2012 targets.
As in 2010, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd had
the lowest average emissions level of the
conventional fuelled cars (104 g CO2/km).
Of the 20 largest manufacturers in 2011
(see graph below), 18 were within 2012 targets,
with the remaining two very close. Five
of these manufacturers are also on track
to meeting their 2015 target.
The EEA figures confirm findings from preliminary
data published in June 2012, which showed
that new cars in 2011 were on average 3.3
% more efficient than those registered in
2010. A growing proportion of diesel vehicles
was partly behind the drop in emissions.
Decreasing average engine and vehicle size
has been a factor for some manufacturers.
While expected to contribute to future greenhouse
gas emission reductions, alternative-fuelled
vehicles made up a small proportion of new
registrations in 2011 and did not significantly
influence the overall trend.
Registrations of pure electric vehicles
remained low with under 9 000 cars registered
in the EU, although this was a dramatic
increase from the 700 registrations in 2010.
In 2011, the number of manufacturers selling
only pure electric vehicles increased to
four.
