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Climate Action

Progress on climate action

Introduction

The EU has steadily decreased its greenhouse gas emissions since 1990, reaching a total –32.5% in 2022. COVID lockdown measures in 2020 caused an unprecedented fall in emissions, followed by a strong rebound in 2021. 2022 emissions, however, continue to fall below the 2019 level.

Another positive development this year is that the volume of carbon removed from the atmosphere in the EU increased in 2022 compared to the previous year, based on approximate data. However, based on Member States' projections, the EU is currently not on track to reach its 2030 objective of removing 310 million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere per year.
 
The EU and its Member States need to significantly step up their implementation efforts and accelerate emissions reduction to stay on track to reach the -55% net greenhouse gas reduction target by 2030, and climate neutrality by 2050.

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Climate Action Progress Report

Every year, we publish the EU Climate Action Progress Report (CAPR): an annual report on our progress towards our emission reduction targets. With this, the Commission delivers on obligations set out in the Governance Regulation, including to assess progress with the EU 2030 climate target. At the same time, the report is an opportunity to inform a wide audience about recent developments in EU climate action. The report covers actual (historic) emissions and projected future emissions for every country. It also includes information on EU policies and measures, climate finance and adaptation.

In 2023, for the first time, the report also includes the assessment of progress towards the EU 2050 climate-neutrality objective, progress on adaptation, and an analysis of the consistency of national and union measures with climate objectives as required under European Climate Law.

Read our latest Climate Action Progress Report (CAPR): Shifting gears: Increasing the pace of progress towards a green and prosperous future

You can find versions from previous years in our Documentation section.

Documentation

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