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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on EU Reporter or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Global greenhouse gas emissions reached a record 53.2 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2024, marking a 1.3% rise from the previous year, according to the EU’s EDGAR database
• Despite this overall increase, the European Union stood out by reducing its emissions by 1.8%, continuing a long-term downward trend
• Japan also registered a decrease, while emissions in China, the US, and India remained stable or rose modestly
🔭 The context: Since 1990, global GHG emissions have grown by 65%, averaging a 1.5% annual rise, driven by expanding economies and energy demand
• The eight largest emitters—China, USA, India, EU, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, and Japan—account for two-thirds of global emissions
• However, emission intensity (GHG per unit of GDP) has declined across all major economies, with the EU showing the steepest absolute drop in emissions since 1990
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: While economic decoupling from emissions is accelerating in the EU, Japan, and the US, global reductions are being offset by rising emissions in rapidly growing economies like India and Indonesia
• The continued increase in power and fuel exploitation emissions in 2024 highlights structural challenges in transitioning away from fossil fuels
• Land-use trends also show critical risks, as wildfire emissions (2.1 Gt CO₂eq) and deforestation (3.7 Gt CO₂) erode the mitigation capacity of global carbon sinks
⏭️ What's next: The EU is advancing toward its 2030 and 2050 climate goals under the European Green Deal and Climate Law, with a proposed 90% emissions reduction target by 2040
• Globally, further progress hinges on policy implementation, technological innovation, and financing to support emission reductions in developing economies
• The EDGAR dataset will continue to inform global stocktakes and policymaking, especially as countries revise their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of COP30 in Brazil
💬 One quote: “The EU’s continued emissions decline amidst global increases underscores the feasibility—and urgency—of sustained, policy-driven climate action.” – JRC report authors
📈 One stat: In 2024, the power sector contributed the highest absolute increase in emissions globally: +235 Mt CO₂eq (+1.5%).
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