CO2 emissions from transport in the EU27 – An analysis of 2008 data submitted to the UNFCCC

We wrote this complement because of the continuing confusion over the contribution of the transport sector to the EU’s CO₂ emissions. This confusion arises because the EEA’s figures usually leave out emissions from international shipping and aviation (so-called ‘bunkers’). The Kyoto Protocol is to blame for this; it does not allocate the emissions from these two sectors to individual countries, and therefore EU-total figures also typically leave them out. This report includes bunker emissions, determined on the basis of fuel sales.

All figures in this note apply to CO₂ emissions in the EU27 and include emissions from international aviation and shipping, unless otherwise stated.

• Between 1990 and 2008, transport emissions increased by 34% while emissions from other sectors decreased by 14%. Compared with 2007 transport emissions decreased by 1.6% and those of other sectors by 2.2%.
• Consequently, the share of transport in total emissions rose further from 28 to 29%; in 1990 the share of transport was 21%;
• Emissions from international aviation and shipping (both outside Kyoto) have risen by 110% and 56% respectively. Emissions from aviation were unchanged in 2008, those of shipping dropped by 2.1% compared with 2007;
• In 2008 aviation and shipping accounted for 7.0% of total CO₂ emissions, and 24% of transport emissions. In 1990, these figures were 3.8% and 18% respectively.