Covid-19 meant that far less carbon was emitted
EU ETS emissions fall 12.6pc in 2020—official data
Record fall in verified emissions of participating installations was largely in line with expectations
Emissions from installations participating in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) fell by a record 12.6pc in 2020, official figures today reveal, as the Covid-19 pandemic led to sharply lower industrial output and the power sector continued to shift away from coal. Analysts from Refinitiv estimated that total emissions excluding aviation fell to 1.339bn t, down from 1.532bn in 2019. The decline was largely in line with expectations; analyst surveys in March predicted emissions would fall by 12.8pc, to 1.352bn t. significant number of compliance buyers have yet to complete their purchasing for 2020, and many had been waiting for prices to fall Under EU ETS rules, participating insta
Also in this section
28 November 2025
The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate
18 November 2025
Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.
11 November 2025
Transition policies must recognise that significant industrial demand for carbon will continue even as economies hit net zero
6 November 2025
After years of pursuing ideologically driven climate leadership, Western powers are now stepping back under mounting political pressure and rising populist opposition—prompting concern essential climate action could be sidelined
