Ahead of the UN Climate Conference in Brazil, a new documentary asks if the European Union is losing momentum in its efforts to reduce emissions and support nature recovery.
In August, the European Commission published fresh data on the bloc’s carbon output. In the first quarter of 2025, the combined footprint of the 27 nations was 900million tonnes. This is up 3.4% on the same month in 2024. Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning accounted for the largest increases.
All things are not equal on the continent and islands, though. Several countries achieved significant carbon reductions, including Malta (-6.2%), Finland (-4.4%), and Denmark (-4.3%). Interestingly, these states also managed to grow their GDP during the same period. Nevertheless, 21 other nations saw static or increasing carbon output, contributing to the region’s overall rise.
This is particularly concerning considering the EU has introduced a number of major regulatory changes. For example, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Council’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Both of which are less far-reaching than the impending Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which we dubbed ‘a turning point for global trade’.
So why is the EU failing to make headway on emissions despite rolling out legislation designed to force the hand of its biggest polluters, and their international supply chains? How much further is the bloc willing to go to make good on the commitments members made during the 2015 Paris climate talks. Ahead of COP30 opening in Belém, Brazil, on Monday 10th November, a new ARTE.tv documentary looks to answer these questions, and ask if Brussels is giving up on the fight to save our planet.
Image: Christian Lue / Unsplash