The report analyses emission trends in the sectors covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) over the period 2005–2024, at the EU-27 level, comparing member states’ performance. The analysis is based on the latest data published in 2025 by the EU Registry and the European Environment Agency.

Key findings of the reports include:

• Emissions from the electricity & heat production and energy-intensive industry sectors decreased by 51.2% between 2005 and 2024, keeping the EU-27 well on track towards the -62% target for 2030. Emission reductions were primarily driven by Luxembourg, Portugal, and Denmark, while Cyprus, Sweden, and Poland had the poorest performances.
• Between 2023-2024, a 5.2% decrease was recorded in all three ETS sectors (electricity and heat production; energy-intensive industry; and aviation), despite emissions increasing in seven member states.
• An all-time low in emissions was recorded in both electricity and heat production (574.7 million tons) and industry (430.6 million tons). Nonetheless, emissions from industry decreased by a mere 1.1% compared to 2023, whereas the electricity and heat production achieved an impressive drop (-9.7%). Aviation emissions remain on an upward trend (+15.1% compared to 2023), approaching pre-pandemic levels.
• In 2024, the cumulative emissions from all three sectors reached a 20-year low at 1,065.6 million tons. Four countries (Germany, Poland, Italy, and Spain) were the largest contributors.
• For the first time in 2024, emissions from the shipping sector were recorded, amounting to 62.2 million tons. Greece led in emissions, followed by Italy and Spain.
• With regard to the top three polluting industrial sectors, emission reductions in the cement industry (-4.7%) and refineries (-2%) were primarily driven by, Germany and France, while Czechia and Italy contributed the most to reducing emissions from the steel industry (-1.2%).
• In 2024, the EU-27 industry was subsidised by €27.24 billion (420.78 million free emission allowances; this figure corresponds to 70% of the auction revenues received by all Member States in that year.