Graph showing historical emissions (2015-2024) and annual GHG emission allocations for the period up to 31 December 2030 from the sectors referred to in Article 5 of the amended climate law of 15 December 2020; Credit: MECB

On Friday 1 August 2025, Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity published the provisional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions report for 2024.

The ministry reported that Luxembourg successfully met its GHG emission reduction targets for the fifth consecutive year. The results show a continued decline in emissions, with the country staying within the emissions budget set for 2024.

Under Regulation (EU) 2018/842, Luxembourg's GHG emissions for 2024 are estimated at 6,779,940 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. These estimates are subject to change, primarily due to the regular updating of STATEC's energy balance, with final data and calculations for 2024.

According to the provisional balance, GHG emissions for 2024 were down nearly 100,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (-1.5%) compared to 2023. They were 12% below the levels recorded in 2020, a year marked by COVID-19 lockdowns, and 26.7% lower than in 2019. Compared to the 2005 reference year, emissions decreased by 33%.

Total provisional emissions in 2024 were 2.75% (192,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent) below the 2024 emissions allocation set in the Grand Ducal Regulation of 22 June 2022, which outlines sectoral targets for the period up to 31 December 2030 under Article 5 of the amended Climate Law of 15 December 2020. This means Luxembourg remained within its 2024 emissions budget.

The ministry noted that these figures do not include emissions from industrial installations covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Between 2023 and 2024, ETS-reported emissions decreased by 6.6%, from 890,000 to 831,000 tonnes, i.e. a reduction of 59,000 tonnes.

Luxembourg met its 2024 emission targets in the "transport" and "agriculture and forestry" sectors, while allocations were exceeded in the "energy and manufacturing industries, construction", "residential and tertiary buildings" and "waste and wastewater treatment" sectors.

By sector, emissions changed as follows:

  • Transport: this sector accounted for 59.1% of total emissions; emissions were down 1.4% compared to 2023 and 35% compared to 2019; they were 11% below the 2024 target;
  • Residential and tertiary buildings: 19.7% of total emissions; emissions down 3% from 2023 and 17% from 2019; 11.6% above the 2024 target;
  • Agriculture and forestry: 10.8% of total emissions; emissions up 3% from 2023 and down 1% from 2019; 1% below the 2024 target;
  • Energy and manufacturing industries, construction: 7.8% of total emissions; emissions down 1.5% from 2023 and 1% from 2019; 38% above the 2024 target;
  • Waste and wastewater treatment: 2.6% of total emissions; emissions down 4% from 2023 and 12% from 2019; 9.2% above the 2024 target.

The Interministerial Committee for Climate Action will analyse the provisional emissions assessment to evaluate progress made at the national level and by sector.

The final assessment for 2024, based on final data from the GHG emissions inventory, will be published by 15 March 2026.

The ministry recalled that the amended Climate Law of 15 December 2020 sets - in addition to the objective of climate neutrality by 2050 - a national GHG emission reduction target of 55% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. This target applies to all emissions allocated to Luxembourg under Regulation (EU) 2018/842, excluding those covered by the EU ETS (large industrial facilities and aviation).

The law also provides that emission reduction targets are to be set, by means of a Grand Ducal Regulation, for the five sectors listed above, the boundaries of which are precisely defined in the annex to the 2020 amended law. The Grand Ducal Regulation of 22 June 2022 implements these targets.