Greenhouse gas emissions from European Union countries fell by 2.5% last year, continuing a long-term decline, the European Environment Agency (EEA) reported before the start of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil next week.

“Now halfway between the start of this century and 2050, the EU is largely on track towards climate neutrality,” the EEA said. The aim is to cut emissions by 55% from 1990 levels.

“Fundamental changes in the energy system, technological innovation in industry and greater public awareness have together driven a 39% reduction in emissions by 2024 compared with 1990 levels,” the Copenhagen-based body added.

The 27 EU states were on track to achieve a cut of 54% by 2030, provided that current and planned measures were fully implemented, the EEA predicted.

The EU has set a target to become climate neutral by 2050.

This week, member states agreed to cut emissions by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels.

The new target is a compromise, allowing five percentage points of the reduction to be achieved through international offsets under agreements with non-European countries. The European Parliament still needs to approve the deal.

The largest reductions were in the energy sector, as in previous years, with renewables taking over from fossil fuels. Smaller cutbacks were recorded in agriculture, construction and refuse disposal.

Slight rises were posted in industry and in national and international transport, and the EEA noted that sales of electric cars had declined in 2024.

“These patterns confirm that while some sectors are transforming rapidly, others must accelerate – or even reverse – their current trends,” it said.