jpZelabal + 63 jj May 15, 2018 The proliferation of renewable energy in the European Union in 2017 did not stop the majority of member states from increasing their carbon footprint. The European Union had a 25 percent growth in wind power and a six percent increase in solar, however, carbon emissions rose by 1.8 percent in 2017, according to a report from Greentech Media. Malta experienced the highest increase, with a 12.8 percent rise. Estonia and Bulgaria came next, with an 11.3 and 8.3 percent increase, respectively. Altogether, 20 EU member countries saw their carbon dioxide rates go up, while seven were able to cut their rates. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pinto + 293 PZ May 15, 2018 So many of the save the planet actions were based on junk science or backed into front end data so of course the outcomes are not what was promised. And, now we have bad result.. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marina Schwarz + 1,576 May 16, 2018 Is there any explanation for this? I can guess why emissions are rising in the Balkans but I don't know about the rest of Europe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume Albasini + 851 May 16, 2018 The European Union expanded by 2.5% in 2017, its strongest performance since 2007 . Without the increase in renewables the carbon emmission would have been higher. But the capacity increase in renewables was not enough to satisfy the higher demand for electricity and more fossil fuels were used. An analysis by Sandbag, a Brussels and London-based not-for-profit climate change policy think tank, determined that the increase in emissions across the EU was largely due to greater use of lignite to fuel industrial growth. https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/european-renewables-are-up-so-are-carbon-emissions#gs.CTcvTWc Another cause of this increase is the appetite of the european consumers for heavy SUVs and crossovers in Europe. Data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in Europe rose by 0.4% in 2017. https://www.automotiveworld.com/analysis/co2-emissions-rise-europes-new-car-fleet-bulks/ 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume Albasini + 851 May 16, 2018 (edited) 7 of the top 10 european polluters are in Germany. A collateral effect of the post-Fukushima decision to accelerate the phase out of nuclear energy. From the Sandbag report : https://sandbag.org.uk/2018/04/03/new-data-european-ets-emissions-rise-for-first-time-in-7-years/ Edited May 16, 2018 by Guillaume Albasini Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marina Schwarz + 1,576 May 16, 2018 1 hour ago, Guillaume Albasini said: Another cause of this increase is the appetite of the european consumers for heavy SUVs and crossovers in Europe. Data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that average CO2 emissions from new cars sold in Europe rose by 0.4% in 2017. https://www.automotiveworld.com/analysis/co2-emissions-rise-europes-new-car-fleet-bulks/ Ah, yes, this one I suspected. Thanks for confirming with numbers. I'm not sure Europe is being smart about nuclear energy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OERLewis 0 LL May 16, 2018 I also think a lot of the renewable energy components and their movements come from Europe so building more renewable energy plants (even offshore wind where large vessels are working offshore continuously) will produce more CO2 emissions in the short term. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rodent + 1,424 May 16, 2018 Dear Europe: [eyeroll] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marina Schwarz + 1,576 May 21, 2018 On 5/16/2018 at 2:55 PM, OERLewis said: I also think a lot of the renewable energy components and their movements come from Europe so building more renewable energy plants (even offshore wind where large vessels are working offshore continuously) will produce more CO2 emissions in the short term. Which reminds me: what's the average productive life of a wind turbine/solar panel? That would help put things in perspective. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites