The intensity of greenhouse gas emissions in Cyprus decreased by just over 26 per cent from 2013 to 2023, according to data published by Eurostat on Monday.

This compared to a drop of 32 per cent for the EU on average.

The greenhouse gas emissions intensity measures the amount of emissions (measured in carbon dioxide equivalents) per unit of gross value added (measured in euro) in a given economy. A decrease in the emissions intensity means fewer emissions for the same amount of economic value added.

For the same time period, the gross value added to the Cyprus economy came to 48.3 per cent. For the EU on average, the gross value added was 19 per cent.

The largest reductions in emissions intensity were recorded in Estonia (-61 per cent), Ireland (-50 per cent) and Slovenia (-41 per cent).

Greenhouse gases comprise carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, the fluorinated gases and hydrofluorocarbons.

In 2023 the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by economic activities and households totalled 3.4 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalents. This represents a 7 per cent decrease compared with 2022 and 18 per cent reduction compared with 2013.

Between 2013 and 2023, producers in almost all economic activities reduced their greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply achieved the sharpest rate of decline and the largest overall decrease, with a 43 per cent drop (448 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents).