EU environmental tax receipts rise 6% in 2024 as Ireland records €5.9bn in 2025

Eurostat data show that the European Union collected €371.9 billion in environmental taxes in 2024, a 6.1 % increase over the previous year. The revenue, which now accounts for 2.1 % of EU GDP and 5.2 % of public finances, came mainly from energy taxes (77.2 % of the total), with the remaining share split between transport taxes (18 %) and CO₂ emissions taxes (4.8 %). Households and businesses contributed almost equally, although in France households supplied about 60 % of the receipts.

In Ireland, the Central Statistics Office reported a record €5.9 billion in environmental tax collections for 2025, up 7 % year‑on‑year. Households paid 59 % of this amount (€3.468 billion). Energy taxes were the largest component, rising 12 % to €3.924 billion, driven by fuel excise duties (€2.09 billion) and a 10 % increase in carbon tax receipts to almost €1.2 billion. The electricity levy and transport taxes (including motor tax and vehicle registration tax) also grew. The Climate Change Advisory Council recommended raising the carbon tax to €100 per tonne by 2030 and phasing out fossil‑fuel subsidies.