Carbon Dioxide emissions in Greece:

The overall carbon footprint of mobility in Greece shows that the country emits approximately 50-55 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) annually from road mobility. Transport accounts for approximately 20-25% of total greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating its significant contribution to the environmental burden. The average CO₂ emission per passenger car in Greece is approximately 118 grams per kilometer, with small variations depending on the age and model of the vehicle. The increasing use of private vehicles and the lack of adequate public transport are key factors contributing to the high carbon footprint of mobility.

In terms of vehicle categories, private passenger cars are the largest source of carbon footprint. Their emissions represent the largest share of total road emissions, with petrol and diesel engines emitting significant amounts of CO₂. In particular, approximately 60-70% of road transport emissions come from passenger cars. The average annual emission per vehicle is around 2.5-3.5 tonnes of CO₂, while the average consumption reaches 6-8 litres per 100 kilometres. The increasing ownership of cars and the continuous use of fuel contribute to further burdening the environment.

Commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, have higher emissions per kilometer, due to higher fuel consumption. Specifically, they emit around 4-8 tons of CO₂ per year, with fuel consumption ranging from 20 to 30 liters per 100 kilometers and emissions of around 250-300 g/km. Their contribution to the total carbon footprint amounts to 20-25%, and the use of fuel increases their environmental footprint.

Public transport, such as trains, metros and buses, have a lower footprint per passenger compared to private cars, but their overall contribution is significant, accounting for around 10-15% of emissions. Buses and trains mainly use electricity or diesel, with electric grids having the advantage of producing a lower footprint, especially when the electricity comes from renewable sources.

Finally, motorized means such as motorcycles, tricycles, bicycles and pedestrians have a minimum of 5% or no carbon footprint. The trend for the future shows an increasing use of electric cars, which is expected to contribute to the reduction of emissions, since the electricity comes from renewable sources. At the same time, Greece faces challenges, such as high dependence on private vehicles and the lack of integrated public transport systems in many areas.

Policies to promote electromobility, the development of charging networks and the strengthening of sustainable transport are at the heart of the efforts. The country has set targets to reduce emissions from the road fleet by 40% by 2030, in line with European commitments. The share of electric vehicles in Greece was around 3% in 2022, with the aim of increasing significantly by 2030, which is expected to reduce emissions by 20-30% in the coming years and contribute to achieving national and European targets for more sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility. Despite the small trend of reducing emissions due to the increase in hybrid and electric vehicles, overall travel by combustion vehicles remains dominant. This is mainly due to the need to further promote sustainable solutions, as well as the need to improve public transport systems. These changes show a trend towards energy transition, but significant efforts are still required to completely reduce emissions from road mobility.

 

Carbon Dioxide emissions in other countries abroad:

Bulgaria, as one of the least economically developed countries in the European Union, has relatively low levels of emissions from road mobility. The total carbon footprint from transport amounts to approximately 15-20 million tonnes of CO₂ per year. Passenger cars account for the largest share of these emissions, with the average annual emission per vehicle varying around 2.0-3.0 tonnes of CO₂. Most vehicles use petrol or diesel, and the average consumption ranges from 6-8 litres per 100 kilometres. The lower uptake of electric and hybrid vehicles further limits the potential for reducing emissions. However, the country has taken steps to promote clean technologies, but adaptation is slow.

Romania presents a similar picture to Bulgaria, with total emissions of around 20-25 million tonnes of CO₂ per year from road mobility. Passenger cars are responsible for the majority of these emissions, with an average annual emission of around 2.5-3.5 tonnes of CO₂ per vehicle. The use of petrol and diesel is dominant, while the introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles remains limited. Average consumption is around 6-8 litres/100 km. Structural changes and the promotion of sustainable transport are ongoing, but the overall picture shows that Romania still needs to adopt more environmentally friendly technologies.

Italy, as one of the largest economies in Europe, has significant transport emissions, amounting to around 110-120 million tonnes of CO₂ per year. Passenger cars account for the largest share, with an average annual emission of around 1.8-3.0 tonnes of CO₂ per vehicle. The country has actively promoted the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, with the share of electric vehicles reaching around 7-10% in 2022, and aiming to increase significantly by 2030. Average consumption is around 5-7 litres/100 km and the continuous policy of supporting sustainable mobility contributes to reducing emissions.

Spain produces around 80-90 million tonnes of CO₂ per year from transport, with passenger cars accounting for the majority of this. The average annual emission per vehicle is around 2.5-3.5 tonnes of CO₂, while average consumption is around 6-8 litres/100 km. The country has sought to further boost electric vehicles, with the share of electric vehicles reaching 8-12% by 2022, while the aim is to gradually reduce emissions through sustainable mobility policies. Spain is also investing in charging networks and promoting the development of low-footprint public transport.

In Portugal, with total emissions of around 10-15 million tonnes of CO₂ per year from transport, progress is being made in promoting electric vehicles, with the share of electric vehicles reaching around 5-7% by 2022. Passenger vehicles emit an average of 2-3 tonnes of CO₂ per year, with an average consumption of 5-7 litres/100 km. The country aims to further reduce emissions by investing in charging networks and strengthening incentives for the purchase of clean vehicles. Portugal has placed particular emphasis on the energy transition and sustainable mobility.

 

Comparison of the above countries:

These countries show significant differences in terms of their overall carbon footprint from transport, the adoption of clean technologies and progress in the energy transition. Italy and Spain have the highest total CO₂ emissions, due to their size and travel density. Italy, with around 110-120 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, leads the way, while Spain follows with 80-90 million tonnes per year. Both countries have made significant progress in promoting electric and hybrid vehicles, with adoption rates ranging from 7% to 12% in 2022, contributing to the energy transition and reducing emissions.

Greece, as a country with a smaller population and economic size, records total emissions of around 30-40 million tons of CO₂ per year, with the majority of these coming from passenger and commercial vehicles. The adoption of electric vehicles is in its early stages, with adoption rates around 3-5%, but the country is actively promoting the energy transition through incentives and the development of charging infrastructure.

On the other hand, Portugal and Bulgaria, with total emissions of around 10-15 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, are at an early stage of developing sustainable transport. Portugal, which has made significant investments in charging networks and is actively promoting the adoption of electric vehicles, has an adoption rate of around 5-7%. Bulgaria, with around 15-20 million tonnes per year, faces challenges in the energy transition due to lower economic growth and limited investment in new technologies.

Finally, Romania, with total emissions of around 20-25 million tons of CO₂ per year, has a lower level of emissions, but needs further reforms and investments in sustainable technologies to strengthen the energy transition and reduce its footprint.

Overall, all countries are pursuing the energy transition and increasing the use of clean vehicles, aiming to significantly reduce emissions by 2030, in line with European policies and commitments for climate neutrality. Although they are at different stages, the common trend is the transition to more sustainable transport solutions, with Greece gradually developing the infrastructure and incentives needed to further reduce its footprint.

The above data for the other countries come from various statistical sources and therefore a slight reservation is expressed about their accuracy. However, in general terms, the situation that all the data on the environmental impact of road mobility reflect, establishes the great importance and the need to address the problem.