19:16 28 May 2023
Poland and Germany at the top of the infamous polluters ranking
The first ten places on the list of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the EU are occupied by coal-fired power plants, with the highest number found in Poland and Germany.
These ten power plants accounted for one-quarter of the total emissions from the energy sector and 13 percent of all emissions recorded in the EU Emissions Trading System in 2022. These calculations come from the latest report by the think tank Ember titled "Repeat offenders: coal power plants top the EU emitters list."
"Coal-fired power plants are repeat offenders on the dirty list of the EU. The faster Europe moves away from coal energy, the better," Harriet Fox, Ember analyst, said.
At the top of the list of the largest emitters is the Bełchatów Power Plant, which released over 35 million metric tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere in 2022. The following places are occupied by the German power plants Neurath, Boxberg, and Niederaussem. In fifth place is the Kozienice Power Plant, emitting nearly 17 million tonnes.
