sei-report-eu-consumption-emissions-june-2024-96c34a30498e2513.pdf

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines consumption-based emissions (CBEs) within the European Union, highlighting that the EU is a net importer of CO2 emissions. It analyzes the environmental footprint of EU household consumption, evaluates current policy frameworks, and provides detailed case studies of Sweden, Denmark, and France to identify barriers and opportunities for mitigating CBEs.

• The European Union has been a net importer of CO2 emissions since 2015, meaning emissions from goods and services imported for EU consumption exceed those associated with its exports.
• In 2021, China was the largest exporter of emissions to the EU, accounting for 8.5% of EU consumption-based emissions, followed by Russia (4.8%), the United States (1.6%), and India (1.6%).
• EU household consumption-based emissions (CBEs) in 2021 averaged 8.01 metric tonnes of CO2e per person, with food being the highest emitting category at 3.1 tonnes CO2e, followed by housing (2 tonnes), mobility (1.7 tonnes), and household goods (1.1 tonnes).
• There is significant variation in CBEs among EU member states; in 2021, footprints ranged from 11 tonnes CO2e per person in Denmark and Luxembourg to 4.6 tonnes CO2e per person in Slovakia.
• The report identifies a trend where EU territorial emissions decrease while imported emissions increase, suggesting a 'shifting of environmental burdens' to third countries.
• Current EU policy measures are criticized for focusing too heavily on efficiency gains ('improved consumption') rather than promoting a shift to low-carbon consumption or reducing overall consumption ('avoid').
• The 8th Environmental Action Plan (EAP), adopted April 6, 2022, is the primary guiding strategy that mentions the need to significantly decrease the Union's material and consumption footprints.
• The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the EcoDesign for Sustainable Products Regulation are highlighted as key tools for applying EU environmental standards to imported products.
• In Sweden, households account for approximately 60% of CBEs, and the country has seen a nearly 30% decrease in CBEs since 2008, largely due to biofuels and electric vehicles.
• Denmark had the highest per capita consumption-based climate footprint of all EU countries in 2021, at approximately 11 tonnes of CO2e per person.
• France's consumption-based emissions in 2019 were 48% higher than its national territorial inventory, with a significant portion linked to imported equipment and commercial services.
• A major barrier to addressing CBEs is the lack of standardized monitoring methods across EU institutions, leading to inconsistencies in data and difficulty in setting binding targets.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). sei-report-eu-consumption-emissions-june-2024-96c34a30498e2513.pdf. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/sei-report-eu-consumption-emissions-june-2024.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. sei-report-eu-consumption-emissions-june-2024-96c34a30498e2513.pdf. n.d. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/sei-report-eu-consumption-emissions-june-2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=sei-report-eu-consumption-emissions-june-2024-96c34a30498e2513.pdf |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/sei-report-eu-consumption-emissions-june-2024.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendseireporteuconsumptionemissionsjune202496c34a30498e2513pdf, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{sei-report-eu-consumption-emissions-june-2024-96c34a30498e2513.pdf}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/sei-report-eu-consumption-emissions-june-2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }