"Energy-intensive industries need to be transformed to reduce GHG emissions" (EEA)

"Further reductions in GHG emissions from energy-intensive industries require a more profound industrial transformation, as well as the full application of existing European environmental legislation", says the European Environment Agency (EEA), in the note "Zero pollution, decarbonisation and the circular economy in energy-intensive industries", published on 25/02/2026.

The analysis focuses on the main energy-intensive sectors: iron and steel, cement and lime, aluminium, pulp and paper, glass and clay, and chemicals. These industries are responsible for more than "60% of the total energy consumption of all manufacturing sectors".

According to the document, 27% of the EU's industrial GHG emissions are due to energy-intensive industries. Their emissions have fallen sharply over the past two decades (-42% on average between 2005 and 2023), but "progress is stagnating".

In addition, the external cost of pollution from these industries is €73 Bn/year, according to the report, "mostly linked to impacts on human health".

The analysis also identified "critical areas", notably in Flanders…