Analysis of decoupling economic growth from material and energy use for several EU countries

The industrial revolution, dynamic economic growth and population growth in the world mainly affect to an increase in energy and material use. Ambitious premises of the climate and energy package in the European Union are justified from the point of view of protecting the environment against the growing emission of greenhouse gases. The EU countries, as the ones with high levels of economic development, have decided to realize a decarbonization policy to become leaders in this aspect on the world scale. Autor presents historical data from Eurostat for several European Union countries to demonstrate energy and material consumption in comparison to Gross Domestic Product. According to the data one more elements was necessary such as imports of goods and services which shows that production in other region of the world can exporting the environmental impact to this region that is why it is only illusion of decoupling. Analysis show that only relative or temporary decoupling is possible.