Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the European Union fell 2.5 percent last year compared to a year earlier. The European statistics agency Eurostat reports this on the basis of preliminary figures on the greenhouse gas.

The statisticians do not indicate where the fall is due. They do, however, point to the effect that import and export can have on the figures. For example, imported energy is not included in the total CO2 emissions of the importing country, but that does not apply to the import of fuels such as coal or gas.

In the Netherlands, CO2 emissions decreased by 4.6 percent. Only four countries recorded larger reductions: Portugal did best in this area with a reduction of 9 percent, for Bulgaria, Ireland and Germany. Eight Member States saw their emissions increase. Latvia was the leader, with 8.5 percent more CO2 emissions.