Climate · emissions beyond borders
Since 2018, Slovakia has caused more emissions abroad than at home
Emissions from Slovak consumption are falling, as long as they happen in Slovakia. The emissions in factories, power plants and fields elsewhere, for goods, food and buildings, are rising. Climate targets don't count them.
- The footprint of Slovakia is 14–24 percent higher than official emissions according to the national inventory (via Eurostat). Exactly how much depends on the model.
- 57–61 percent of the footprint arises abroad (2022), against 48–54 percent in 2010. Since 2018 it has been more than half in every model.
- Official emissions fell by 21 percent between 2010 and 2022; the footprint only by 1–4 percent.
- Per person, Slovakia causes 7.7 tonnes, less than the EU average of 9.0 tonnes (rank 20 of 27, Eurostat 2023). Between 2010 and 2019 the footprint fell by 11 percent, slower than in most EU countries; between 2019 and 2023 it fell by 7 percent, similar to most EU countries.
- Outside Slovakia, most emissions for Slovak consumption are released in Russia, China and Czechia.
- Slovakia imports more emissions than it exports: 9–12 megatonnes net in 2022. Since 2010, what it earns from foreign demand grew by 38 percent (real); the emissions for it fell by 20 percent.
- Satellites see more methane over Slovakia than the country reports: 2.0× the reported amount (2023).
In short
Emissions caused by Slovak consumption and investment, by location
The official figure falls faster than the footprint
The figure in the news is emissions on Slovak territory, according to the national inventory (via Eurostat). It fell by 21 percent between 2010 and 2022. The footprint fell by 1–4 percent over the same years. The official figure counts emissions for what is exported, but not for what is imported.
Slovakia compared with the other EU countries
Per person, Slovakia causes 7.7 tonnes of greenhouse gas (Eurostat, 2023), less than the EU average of 9.0 tonnes, rank 20 of 27.
Checked from space
Satellites measure how much methane hangs in the air. From that, scientists can work back to how much a country emits. That puts an independent measurement next to the official figures.
Where the emissions occur
For Slovak consumption, most emissions abroad occur in Russia, followed by China, Czechia and Poland. Pick a year or play the timeline. Click a country to see how it changed since 2010.
Who Slovakia emits for
In 2022, 17–18 megatonnes of greenhouse gases were released in Slovakia for consumption and investment in other countries. Meanwhile, 26–30 megatonnes were released elsewhere for Slovak consumption. That makes Slovakia a net importer of emissions: 9–12 megatonnes more are released elsewhere for Slovakia than the other way round.
How we calculate
A footprint follows every euro that households, government and companies spend on final products back through the supply chain, to the country where the emissions occur. So-called input-output models do this, built on trade statistics and emission inventories from dozens of countries.