Government revenues from environmental taxes amounted to €359.3 bn in 2015 in the European Union (EU), compared with €288.4 bn in 2005. Over the same period, the share of environmental taxes in total government revenues from taxes and social contributions decreased from 6.6% in 2005 to 6.3% in 2015.
Taxes on energy accounted for more than three-quarters of the total revenues from environmental taxes (76.7% of the total), well ahead of taxes on transport (19.8%) and those on pollution and resources (3.5%).
Highest share of environmental taxes in Croatia, lowest in Belgium and France
The proportion of environmental taxes in total revenues from taxes and social contributions varied significantly across the EU Member States. In 2015, Croatia had the highest share of environmental taxes (10.9%), slightly ahead of three other EU Member States with a share of at least 10%: Slovenia (10.6%), Greece (10.3%) and Bulgaria (10.0%).
At the opposite end of the scale, Belgium (4.7%) and France (4.8%) recorded the lowest shares of environmental taxes, followed by Luxembourg (4.9%), Germany (5.0%) and Sweden (5.1%).
The share of environmental taxes in total government revenues from taxes and social contributions is one indicator of the resource efficiency scoreboard. The scoreboard monitors the implementation of the roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe. This roadmap recommends a substantial increase in the share of environmental taxes in line with the best practice of Members States (shares exceeding 10%).
For more information
Eurostat website section dedicated to environmental taxes.
Eurostat database dedicated to environmental taxes.
Eurostat Statistics Explained article on environmental tax statistics.