EU emissions drop 17.2% amid rising energy costs and Polish heating transition

The European Union has achieved a 17.2% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across 27 member states between 2015 and 2025. This progress has lowered the EU's share of global emissions from 8% to less than 6%, driven by the Emissions Trading System (ETS), industrial modernization, and renewable energy investments.

However, this transition has impacted the economy. During this period, eurozone economic growth reached approximately 16%, while energy costs rose significantly. For businesses, the price for 1 kWh increased by 72%, and for households, the increase was 39%.

In Poland, the heating sector is undergoing a gradual decarbonization. As of 2025, coal's share in heat production has dropped to 52.8%, down from 81.7% in 2002. Biomass has emerged as the primary renewable source in Polish heating, accounting for approximately 97% of all renewable energy used in the sector. In 2025, heating enterprises invested 5.59 billion PLN in modernization and environmental protection, with the highest investments occurring in the Mazowieckie, Śląskie, and Pomorskie provinces.