Bulgaria worst performer in EU CO2 emission reduction chart
Bulgaria performed worst among European Union member countries in a comparison of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion in 2013 and 2014, according to early estimates released by EU statistics office Eurostat on June 15.
Across the EU, CO2 emissions of this kind dropped by five per cent in 2014 from 2013 levels.
But in six EU countries, CO2 emissions increased, with Bulgaria reporting an increase of 7.1 per cent, making it the worst performer in the 28-member bloc.
In real terms, Bulgaria’s CO2 emissions, measured by 1000 tons, increased from 40 720 in 2013 to 43 610 in 2014.
Other EU countries where there were increases were Cyprus (3.5 per cent), Malta (2.5 per cent), Lithuania (2.2 per cent), Finland (0.7 per cent) and Sweden (0.2 per cent).
The largest decreases were recorded in Slovakia (-14.1 per cent) and Denmark (-10.7 per cent), followed by Slovenia (-9.1 per cent), the United Kingdom (-8.7 per cent) and France (-8.2 per cent).
According to a European Commission media statement, CO2 emissions are a major contributor to global warming and account for about 80 per cent of all EU greenhouse gas emissions.
They are influenced by factors such as climate conditions, economic growth, size of the population, transport and industrial activities.
Various EU energy efficiency initiatives aim to reduce emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
It should also be noted, the statement said, that imports and exports of energy products have an impact on CO2 emissions in the country where fossil fuels are burned: for example if coal is imported this leads to an increase in emissions, while if electricity is imported, it has no direct effect on emissions in the importing country, as these would be reported in the exporting country where it is produced.
(Photo: Corus IJmuiden/sxc.hu)
