Abstract
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from drained peatlands in the European Union (EU) significantly contribute to the total EU anthropogenic GHG emissions (6%). The lack of high-resolution spatial data in national monitoring systems hampers effective mitigation planning. We present detailed maps of land use, GHG emissions, and emission hotspots for EU peatlands. Results indicate that undrained peatlands and forest lands are prevalent at high latitudes, while grasslands and croplands dominate around latitudes 50°-55°. Three main emission hotspots are identified, all in the North Sea region: South-western England, Western Netherlands, and North-western Germany, accounting for 20% of EU peatland emissions on just 4% of the peatland area. This study highlights the necessity of targeted curbing of emissions from drained peatlands to meet EU climate goals and reveals substantial underreporting of emissions in current National Inventory Submissions to the UNFCCC, amounting to 59-113 Mt CO2-e annually. Our findings provide a crucial basis for policymakers to prioritize peatland rewetting to reduce GHG emissions.