Warmer winters throughout Europe has led to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report published on Tuesday by the European Environment Agency.
According to the latest figures from 2014, mild winter temperatures lead to substantially lower heat demands among European households, playing an important role in the ongoing decline in EU greenhouse gas emissions.
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“Demand for energy to heat households has also been lower, as Europe on average has experienced milder winters since 1990, which has also helped reduce emissions,” the EEA said in a press release.
In particular, mild and wet winters were felt in Germany and the U.K., which together combined for about 45 percent of the EU's net decrease in Greenhouse emissions.
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"If you look at the 24 year period, there is some warming in Europe and this has contributed to lower heat demand and lower greenhouse gas emissions," said Ricardo Fernandez from the European Environment Agency told BBC on Wednesday.
However, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the 24-year period was also due to a growing share in the use of renewables, a switch from coal to gas for electricity production and the economic recession of 2008, the report added.
Over 80 percent of the total Greenhouse gas emissions reduction in 2014 was accounted for by lower CO2 emissions from gas and solid fuels from thermal power stations.
As part of the UN Paris agreement on climate change, the EU has vowed to cut overall emissions to 40 percent below the 1990 level by 2030.
According to the latest scientific research, at least 82 percent of what remains of fossil fuel now has to be left underground in order to stave off catastrophic levels of global warming.
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