Despite notable progress, 2024 saw an increase in emissions from power generation in Greece due to fossil gas and stagnation in industrial emissions. In contrast, the EU-27 achieved a 20-year low in emissions in both sectors. Greece also ranked first among EU-27 countries in shipping emissions, while emissions from aviation doubled compared to 2013.
The new Green Tank report, titled “Trends in the Emissions Trading System in the European Union and Greece, 2005–2024”, analyzes emission trends in the sectors covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) over the period 2005–2024, both at the EU-27 level and for Greece, based on the latest data published in 2025 by the EU Registry and the European Environment Agency. It also identifies the top polluters in Greece and ranks the sectors with the highest emissions from 2005 to 2024.
Key findings include:
- Greece ranks 6th among EU member states in reducing emissions from electricity and heat production and energy-intensive industry between 2005 and 2024, with a 63.9% drop—ten places higher than the EU-27 average of 51.2%.
- Between 2023 and 2024, seven EU-27 countries, including Greece, recorded an increase in ETS sector emissions. However, total emissions in the EU-27 decreased by 5.2%.
- In 2024, four countries—Germany, Poland, Italy, and Spain—accounted for 58.3% of total ETS emissions in the EU-27, which stood at 1,065.6 million tons.
- The EU-27 industry received €27.24 billion in subsidies in 2024, corresponding to 420.78 million free emission allowances—about 70% of the total auction revenues received by all member states that year.
- The marginal 0.3% decline in emissions from Greek industry between 2023 and 2024 was due to a 6.9% reduction in emissions from the cement sector being offset by a 2.7% increase in emissions from refineries.
- In 2024, fossil gas-based electricity production was the most polluting activity in Greece, emitting 8.2 million tons of CO₂. This was followed by oil refining (6 million tons) and cement production (4.4 million tons). For the first time, lignite-fired electricity generation dropped to fourth place, with 4.3 million tons.
- Despite lignite’s 20-year low, the Agios Dimitrios lignite plant remained Greece’s top emitter in 2024. It was followed by three refineries (HELPE Elefsina, Motor Oil Corinth, and HELPE Aspropyrgos) and a shipping company (Shanghai Ocean), newly included in the ETS.
“The EU ETS has consistently driven emission reductions in the power sector across the EU. However, in Greece, progress is not guaranteed, as 2024 saw a rise in emissions due to fossil gas, much of which was used for electricity exports. Industrial emissions stagnation, rising aviation emissions, and Greece’s top position in shipping emissions highlight the urgent need to accelerate decarbonization efforts,” said Ioanna Souka, energy policy analyst at The Green Tank.
Notes to editors:
- You can read the full report “Trends in the Emissions Trading System in the European Union and Greece, 2005–2024” here.
- The analysis was conducted as part of the LIFE Effect project (LIFE23 GIC BE LIFE EFFECT), which aims to strengthen the knowledge, capacity, and networks of civil society and other stakeholders around two new EU climate policy instruments: the EU Emissions Trading System for road transport and buildings (EU ETS 2) and the Social Climate Fund.
- For more information on the history and functioning of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), see the EU ETS 101 Guide developed under the LIFE ETX project.
