EU's carbon dioxide emissions slightly up year-on-year in 2015: Eurostat

The carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion increased by 0.7 percent in the European Union (EU) in 2015, compared with the previous year, according to early estimates of carbon dioxide emissions from energy use for 2015 by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU on Tuesday.

According to Eurostat estimates, carbon dioxide emissions rose in 2015 in a majority of EU member states, with the highest increases being recorded in Slovakia, Portugal and Hungary, followed by Belgium and Bulgaria.

Decreases were registered in eight member states, notably in Malta, Estonia, Denmark, Finland and Greece.

Carbon dioxide emissions are a major contributor to global warming and account for around 80 percent of all EU greenhouse gas emissions.

They are influenced by factors such as climate conditions, economic growth, sizes of the population, transport and industrial activities, according to Eurostat.