Greenhouse gas emissions decline in Portugal and France

Recent data indicates a downward trend in greenhouse gas emissions in both Portugal and France. In Portugal, the National Institute of Statistics (INE) reported a 2.8% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions for 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year of decline. This reduction occurred alongside a 2.7% increase in GDP, signaling a continued decoupling of economic activity from emissions. The total emissions reached 52.0 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, the lowest level since 1995. This decline was largely driven by a significant increase in renewable electricity production, specifically hydroelectricity (+25.1%) and photovoltaics (+37.4%), though increases in the cement, lime, chemical, and transport sectors partially offset these gains.

In France, Citepa data shows that global greenhouse gas emissions fell by 4.1% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. The agricultural sector saw a 1% reduction in emissions. Within agriculture, methane emissions decreased by 2.4% due to a reduction in cattle numbers, while nitrous oxide emissions rose by 2.1% because of increased nitrogen fertilizer use. The overall reduction in France was primarily driven by the building (-12.0%) and transport (-4.5%) sectors.