Consumption Emissions: A New Frontier for EU Climate Policy

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the impact of consumption-based emissions (CBEs) on the EU's carbon footprint, noting that the EU has been a net importer of CO2 emissions since 2015 and recommending binding EU-level targets and standardized accounting to mitigate these emissions.

• While EU territorial emissions decreased by 29% between 1990 and 2020, this does not account for the EU's environmental footprint resulting from the import of emissions-intensive goods and services. Since 2015, the EU has been a net importer of CO2 emissions, meaning emissions from imports for EU consumption exceed those from its exports.
• Over 30% of the EU's imported emissions come from outside the EU. China is the primary exporter of emissions to the EU, representing 8.5% of EU consumption-based emissions, followed by Russia at 4.8%, and the United States and India at 1.6% each.
• Environmental impacts of EU consumption are projected to rise up to 2030. To counter this, the report recommends several actions: establishing binding EU-level targets, standardizing CBE accounting methods, implementing mandatory reporting for member states, strengthening EU legislation, increasing value chain transparency, partnering with sustainable producers, and supporting developing countries' sustainable trade practices.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2024). Consumption Emissions: A New Frontier for EU Climate Policy. https://www.sei.org/publications/consumption-emissions-new-frontier-eu-climate-policy

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Consumption Emissions: A New Frontier for EU Climate Policy. 2024. https://www.sei.org/publications/consumption-emissions-new-frontier-eu-climate-policy.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Consumption Emissions: A New Frontier for EU Climate Policy |date=18 June 2024 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/consumption-emissions-new-frontier-eu-climate-policy |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2024consumption, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Consumption Emissions: A New Frontier for EU Climate Policy}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2024}, month = jun, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/consumption-emissions-new-frontier-eu-climate-policy}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }