Emission Intensity - Carbon Intensity in Europe

Carbon Intensity in Europe

Total CO₂ emissions from energy use were 5% below their 1990 level in 2007. Over the period 1990-2007, CO₂ emissions from energy use have decreased on average by 0.3%/year although the economic activity (GDP) increased by 2.3%/year. After dropping until 1994 (-1.6 %/year), the CO₂ emissions have increased steadily (0.4%/year on average) until 2003 and decreased slowly again since (on average by 0.6%/year). Total CO₂ emissions per capita decreased from 8.7 t in 1990 to 7.8 t in 2007, that is to say a decrease by 10%. Almost 40% of the reduction in CO₂ intensity is due to increased use of energy carriers with lower emission factors Total CO₂ emissions per unit of GDP, the “CO₂ intensity”, decreased more rapidly than energy intensity: by 2.3%/year and 1.4%/year, respectively, on average between 1990 and 2007.