[attach id=515314 size="medium"]Emissions of gases used in air conditioning and fridges increased.[/attach]

Greenhouse gas emissions across the European Union have fallen by almost a quarter since 1990, official figures show.

Emissions fell 4.1 per cent in 2014, the most recent year of data published by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

This was mostly due to a warm winter which reduced the need for heating, as well as an increase in renewables such as wind and solar power.

The fall came despite a small level of growth in the EU economy, and brought greenhouse gases to 24.4 per cent below the baseline year of 1990 – or 23 per cent if international aviation is included in the figures.

The reduction in emissions to their lowest levels since 1990 has come despite economic output (GDP) rising 47 per cent over that time, and outstrips the target to cut greenhouse gases by 20 per cent by 2020.

The UK has seen a drop in emissions of more than a third (34.3 per cent) since 1990, the biggest reduction outside eastern Europe where emissions fell dramatically as industries collapsed after the fall of Communism.

Across the EU, emissions have been driven down by more renewables, a switch from coal to gas and improvements in energy efficiency, as well as changes to the economy, from heavy industry towards services, and the 2008 recession.

Homes and buildings have also become better insulated, and milder winters on average have reduced the need for space heating, the EEA said.

Despite the falls, some sectors including road and international flights and shipping have seen substantial increases between 1990 and 2014, the data showed.

The data also showed that emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), gases used in air conditioning and fridges, also increased.

Hans Bruyninckx, EEA executive director, said: “It is positive that Europe has been able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions substantially since 1990. It is an important step towards reaching our 2030 and 2050 climate targets.

“To accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon society, we need to further boost our investments in technology and innovation aimed at reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.”

Greenhouse gas emissions in 2014 were 4,282 million tons across the 28 EU countries, with most countries – except for Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta and Spain – seeing a year-on-year reduction.

The emissions for 2014 are slightly lower than in EEA projections which suggest the EU is well wide of targets to cut emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2030, on the basis of existing measures or with additional measures to cut carbon brought in.

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