REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Eurostat FollowAug 16 (Reuters) - Greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union fell by nearly 3% in the first quarter of 2023, even as the bloc's economy grew slightly, statistics agency Eurostat said on Wednesday. The EU's emissions over the January to March quarter amounted to 941 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalents, down 2.9% from a year earlier, while the economy grew 1.2% year-on-year. Emissions fell in 21 of the bloc's 27 countries, with the largest decreases seen in Bulgaria, Estonia and Slovenia. Households were responsible for the biggest share - nearly a quarter - of total greenhouse gas emissions, Eurostat said, while manufacturing accounted for a fifth. Electricity and gas supply - the sector where emissions fell the most - still contributed 19% to the total figure, with agriculture accounting for 13% and transportation and storage responsible for 10%.

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Persons: Neurath, Wolfgang Rattay, Olivier Sorgho Organizations: REUTERS, European, Eurostat, heatwaves, Electricity, Thomson Locations: Cologne, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, Estonia, Slovenia, Ireland, Latvia, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden, Finland