Cyprus had the highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the European Union in 2022, according to data released by Eurostat, the EU’s statistical agency.

Across the EU, the carbon footprint of goods and services consumed in the bloc reached 10.7 tons of CO2 equivalent per capita in 2022. This indicator accounts for emissions generated throughout the entire production chain of products consumed within the EU, including emissions embedded in imported goods and services.

Among EU member states, Cyprus recorded the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions at 16.6 tons, followed by Luxembourg (15.5 tons) and Ireland (14.2 tons). In contrast, the lowest per capita emissions were reported in Sweden (7.9 tons), Portugal (8.0 tons), and Romania (8.0 tons).

According to Eurostat, emissions from production within the EU were lower than those linked to consumption, indicating that a significant portion of the EU’s carbon footprint is tied to products manufactured outside the bloc.

In 2022, the total greenhouse gas emissions footprint from all goods and services consumed in the EU amounted to 4.8 billion tons of CO2 equivalent, while emissions from production within the EU stood at 3.6 billion tons.

This discrepancy highlights the impact of imported products on the EU’s overall carbon footprint.

Between 2010 and 2022, both consumption-based and production-based emissions in the EU declined by 14% and 18%, respectively. However, emissions saw a sharp drop in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since 2020, the EU’s greenhouse gas footprint has increased by 12%, while production-based emissions rose by 4% in 2022. Despite this increase, emissions in 2022 remained below pre-pandemic levels, with consumption-based emissions down by 1% and production-based emissions down by 6% compared to 2019.