The European Union accounts for 6% of global emissions, while China accounts for almost 30%.

Omissions

• The 6% figure refers to territorial (production-based) emissions only. Eurostat's consumption-based 'footprint' statistics show that EU consumption generated about 8% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 — i.e. the EU's share is higher when emissions embedded in imports are counted.
• The exact share attributed to China ('almost 30%') could not be verified with a literal figure in the retrieved sources; the sources confirm only that China is the world's largest GHG emitter and part of a top-six group accounting for 50.1% (2025) / 51.4% (2024) of global emissions.
• The EU's share has fallen steadily (from 15.2% in 1990 to about 6% today), so the 6% figure is the result of long-term EU emission reductions, not of a static situation; presenting it without this trend omits relevant context.
• Data for 2025 (EDGAR 2026 report) was published in the second half of 2026, i.e. shortly before the session date; the figure the MEP could most reliably have known is 6.1% for 2023 / 5.9% for 2024.

Sources

• PrimaryEDGAR – GHG emissions of all world countries, 2025 report (European Commission, JRC)"In 2024, EU27 emissions decreased by 1.8% (-57.9 Mt CO2eq) and the EU27's share of global emissions decreased from 6.1% in 2023 to 5.9% in 2024." Also: "China, the United States, India, the EU27, Russia and Indonesia were the world's largest GHG emitters in 2024. Together they account for 51.4% of global..."
• PrimaryEDGAR – GHG emissions of all world countries, 2026 Report (European Commission, JRC)"China, the United States, India, the EU27, Russia and Indonesia were the world's largest GHG emitters in 2025. Together they account for 50.1% of global ..."
• PrimaryEurostat Statistics Explained – Greenhouse gas emission footprints"The EU's consumption (final demand of goods and services) led to 4.0 billion tonnes of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, which was about 8% of worldwide..."
• SecondaryEuropean Parliament – Climate change in Europe: facts and figures"The EU's share in the world greenhouse gas emissions fell from 15.2% in 1990 to 6.0% in 2023."