The European Union accounts for only 5% of global CO2 emissions.

Omissions

• The EDGAR headline figure (5.9% in 2024) refers to total greenhouse gas emissions in CO2-equivalent terms, not to CO2 alone; the claim conflates 'CO2 emissions' with total GHG emissions.
• The figure is territorial (production-based) emissions; Eurostat's consumption-based accounting puts the EU's footprint at about 8% of global GHG emissions, a materially higher share that the 'only 5%' framing omits.
• The most recent data available before the session date (2024 reference year, EDGAR 2025 report) shows 5.9%, i.e. slightly above the claimed 5%.

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.
• PrimaryEDGAR – GHG emissions of all world countries, 2024 report (European Commission, JRC)In 2023, EU27 emissions decreased by 7.5% (-261 Mt CO2eq) and the EU27's share of global emissions decreased from 6.8% in 2022 to 6.1% in 2023.
• PrimaryEurostat – Greenhouse gas emission footprints (Statistics Explained)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 emissions.
• SecondaryLe Monde – What is Europe's 'fair share' of climate actionEurope produces only 6% of today's global greenhouse gas emissions, a point some politicians use to play down the continent's responsibility.