BRUSSELS (BLOOMBERG) - Pollution from transport in Europe is rising, data released on Tuesday (April 9) show, putting the industry in the spotlight for tighter restrictions as policymakers struggle to rein in the pollutants damaging the atmosphere.

Transport is the only industry not to contribute to a 22 per cent drop in carbon-dioxide emissions since 1990, the European Union said on Tuesday.

By contrast, pollution from supplying energy fell 32 per cent over that period, the most marked decline.

The level of discharges from road transport increased 20 pe rcent and emissions from international aviation more than doubled, according to a report published by the European Commission.

"In the transport sector, energy consumption and emissions decreased between 2007 and 2013, but are now roughly back at 2005 levels," the commission said.

"The positive impact of efficiency policies has been outweighed by increased transport activity, and low-capacity utilization in road-freight transport."

The EU wants to lead the battle against global warming and has toughened goals to reduce greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.

It intends to cut emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2030 compared with 1990 levels. It's also seeking to boost the share of renewable energy to 32 per cent and increase energy efficiency by 32.5 per cent.

The EU said it remains at risk of missing its energy-efficiency objectives for 2020, which call for a saving of 20 per cent. Energy consumption is now slightly above the trajectory for the end-of-the-decade target.

"This is due to weather variations, notably colder years 2015 and 2016, but also increased economic activity and low oil prices," it said.