Updated
Updated · European Commission · Jul 22
EU Environmental Tax Revenue Rises 6.1% to €371.9 Billion as GDP Share Slips to 2.1%
Updated
Updated · European Commission · Jul 22

EU Environmental Tax Revenue Rises 6.1% to €371.9 Billion as GDP Share Slips to 2.1%

3 articles · Updated · European Commission · Jul 22

Summary

  • €371.9 billion in environmental taxes was collected across the EU in 2024, up €21.4 billion from 2023, Eurostat said.
  • Energy taxes drove the increase, climbing to €287.0 billion from €269.3 billion; transport taxes rose to €67.0 billion and pollution and resource taxes to €17.9 billion.
  • 22 EU countries posted higher environmental tax revenue, led by Romania at 21.7%, while Sweden recorded the steepest drop at 17.7%.
  • The rise in receipts still left environmental taxes less significant in the broader economy, with their share of GDP falling to 2.1% in 2024 from 2.5% in 2014 and their share of total tax and social-contribution revenue down to 5.1% from 6.1%.

Insights

As EU green tax revenues hit a record high, why is their share of the economy actually shrinking?
While Romania’s green tax revenue soars, why did climate leader Sweden see its collections plummet by nearly 18%?
With new packaging rules coming in August, will the EU's 'polluter pays' taxes ever close the climate financing gap?