While Luxembourg celebrates five straight years of meeting overall emissions targets, new data reveals significant exceedances in three sectors accounting for 30% of national emissions, sparking criticism from the Ecological Movement.

The Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity has released its provisional 2024 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions report, confirming Luxembourg's compliance with its annual reduction targets for the fifth straight year. Preliminary data indicates a continued decline in emissions, keeping the country within its 2024 emissions budget.

According to the report, Luxembourg's 2024 GHG emissions – calculated under EU Regulation 2018/842 – are estimated at 6.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. These figures remain subject to revision pending final energy balance data from the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC).

The provisional figures show emissions fell by 1.5% (100,000 tonnes) compared to 2023. When compared to recent benchmark years, 2024 emissions were 12% below 2020 levels and 26.7% below 2019 levels. The country has achieved a 33% reduction from the 2005 baseline year. The 2024 total came in 2.75% (192,000 tonnes) below the annual emissions allowance.

The reported figures exclude emissions from industrial facilities covered by the EU ETS, which saw a separate 6.6% decline (59,000 tonnes) between 2023 and 2024.

Sector-specific results

The transport, agriculture, and forestry sectors all remained within their allocated emissions budgets. However, the energy and manufacturing industries, construction sector, residential and commercial buildings, and waste/wastewater treatment operations all exceeded their permitted emission levels.

An inter-ministerial climate action committee will conduct a detailed analysis of the provisional emissions data to evaluate both national and sector-specific progress.

Ecological Movement expresses criticism

The Ecological Movement acknowledged the report's publication while criticising its timing as "belated". The organisation expressed particular concern about the underreporting of sectoral exceedances.

Association President Blanche Weber noted: "It's mentioned in passing in the press release. They don't hide it, but they don't exactly highlight it either. For example, the industrial sector is 38% over its quota and construction is 11.6% over, even though Luxembourg isn't exactly experiencing a boom in that sector."

The waste and wastewater treatment sector exceeded its emissions limit by 9.2%, completing a concerning trend where three underperforming sectors collectively account for 30% of Luxembourg's total emissions. This contrasts sharply with transport – responsible for 59% of emissions – which remained 11% below its cap.

Weber expressed frustration with Minister for Mobility Yuriko Backes' recent remarks about expanding Findel Airport, particularly her projection of passenger numbers growing to 8 million by 2040. She noted that commercial aviation is notoriously emissions-intensive, "yet Ms Backes talks about an extreme increase in flight traffic as if it were the most normal thing in the world." Weber pointed out that countries such as France are actively limiting regional flights.

The criticism comes amid heightened scrutiny of climate commitments, with the Ecological Movement referencing a 23 July advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice. The ruling emphasised that climate protection constitutes a binding international legal obligation.