(16 April 2021) – Greenhouse gas emissions from operators covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) fell by 13.3% in 2020 compared to 2019 levels.
This reduction resulted from an 11.2% decrease in emissions from stationary installations and a 64.1% decrease in emissions from aviation.
The power sector witnessed a 14.9% decrease, reflecting both reduced electricity consumption due to the pandemic and previously identified decarbonisation trends.
These include both the switch from coal to natural gas-fired power generation, and the replacement of fossil fuels by renewable energy sources.
The ETS is the cornerstone of the EU’s climate change policy. It covers emissions from more than 10,000 power plants, industrial installations and airlines, which together generate around 40% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions.