Figures released by the European Union on Friday show that Greenhouse Gas emission from the EU in 2010 were 15.5% lower than 1990 levels – well over the required 5.2% reduction by 2010, required by the Kyoto Protocol for Annex 1 countries. This is a significant reduction, especially given the 41% of economic growth the EU has experienced in the same time frame.

However, Connie Hedegaard, the EU Climate Change Commissioner, did concede that whilst the EU had succeeded in reducing emissions, there was a 2.4% increase last year, which demonstrates that the EU still needs to stay focused on the emission decoupling process.

A report from the European Environment Agency confirms that member states of the EU-15 have reduced their emissions by 10% last year, entailing that it should easily achieve its target of an 8% reduction in emissions. Likewise, it also confirmed that EU was well on its way to completing its goal of reducing emissions by 20% by 2020.

This announcement is expected to increase calls from countries including the UK, France and Germany for the EU to increase its reduction target form 20% to 30%, however there have been expressed fears from Southern European countries that such an increase could lead to “carbon intensive industries” moving elsewhere, in a similar way to such industries leaving the UK over energy prices.

Still, this is encouraging news for those concerned about economic as well as environmental sustainability.