In 2022, environmental tax revenues in the European Union (EU) reached 317.2 billion euros, equivalent to 2.0% of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP). This figure reflects a 4% decrease (13 billion euros) compared to the 330.2 billion euros recorded in 2021.
The downward trend comes in the context of a return to normalcy after the exceptional years of 2020 and 2021, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, 2022 also stands out for the unique conditions in energy markets. The reduction in total environmental tax revenues from 2021 to 2022 is largely explained by a 15.1 billion euro drop in energy taxes, which generated a total of 243 billion euros in 2022.
On the other hand, pollution and resource taxes showed a 10% increase (1.2 billion euros) and transportation taxes saw a slight 1% increase (809 million euros).
In the EU, corporations were responsible for the majority of environmental tax revenues, contributing 52% of the total. 26% of this figure comes from companies in the manufacturing, construction, mining, and utilities sectors, while the services sector contributed 24%. Households, on the other hand, represented 45% of total environmental tax revenues.
Within the 17 EU countries, households paid over 40% of total environmental tax revenues, with variations ranging from 60% in Denmark to nearly 40% in Malta.
Nationally, corporations on average contributed over 50% of total tax revenues in most EU countries. A small number of countries received significant contributions from non-residents to environmental tax revenues, with Luxembourg being the most notable case with a 46% contribution.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish