Carbon emissions are dropping—fast—in Europe
Thanks to a price mechanism that actually works
![A birdseye view of a man working on some solar panels. A circle of lights are in the centre depicting the stars on the EU flag](https://www.economist.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1424,quality=80,format=auto/content-assets/images/20240427_EUD001.jpg)
“OUR MOST pressing challenge is keeping our planet healthy,” declared Ursula von der Leyen on the day she was elected president of the European Commission in July 2019. Five years on, it still ought to be. Global surface temperatures were 1.48°C higher in 2023 than pre-industrial levels, and 2024 is on course to be hotter still. But Russia’s war in Ukraine and the prospect of another Trump presidency get more attention these days.
This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Getting greener”
Europe April 27th 2024
- Carbon emissions are dropping—fast—in Europe
- Italy’s government is trying to influence the state-owned broadcaster
- The tiny republic of San Marino is alarmingly friendly to Russia
- Will Spain’s prime minister suddenly quit?
- Has the spectre of terrorism finally been excised from Spain?
- Two years of war have impoverished many Ukrainians
- Ursula von der Leyen is the favourite to keep leading the EU—right?
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