According to a recent Eurostat report, emissions in the European Union rose by 3.4% in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2024. This marks the second consecutive quarter of rising emissions, following a 2.2% increase in the final quarter of 2024.

The January–March rise in emissions outpaced the EU’s gross domestic product (GDP), which grew by just 1.2% over the same period, highlighting a widening gap between economic growth and emissions reduction efforts.

The power sector recorded the steepest increase, with emissions climbing 13.6% due to low renewable energy generation, while the transportation and storage sector posted the largest decline, down 2.9%.

Emissions increased in 20 EU member states, with six countries reporting rises of more than 6%. The largest proportional increase was recorded in Bulgaria, where emissions surged by 17.4%. Germany posted the biggest increase in absolute terms, followed by Poland, both of which remain among Europe’s most coal-dependent nations.