Greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector were 22% lower last year than in 2022. More electricity was generated with wind and solar energy, and less electricity was produced with coal and natural gas. Due to the significant drop in emissions, the share of the electricity sector in the total greenhouse gas emissions also fell from 19% in 2022 to 16% in 2023. This is reported by Statistics Netherlands and RIVM/Emission Registration on the basis of the provisional quarterly figures on greenhouse gas emissions, in accordance with the guidelines of the IPCC.
In total
In total, greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 were 6% lower than in 2022. The decrease in emissions from the Dutch economy is mainly because electricity companies have used less coal, biomass and natural gas. In addition, emissions from households and other services were lower due to lower natural gas consumption. Households did use more gasoline. Greenhouse gas emissions last year were 34% below 1990 levels.
Industry
Greenhouse gas emissions from industry were 3% lower than in 2022. Industry used 21% less coal and 4% less natural gas, but more petroleum raw materials and products. Industry had the largest share of total greenhouse gas emissions, at 32%. The vast majority of this concerned CO 2 .
CO 2 emissions from the mining, industry and construction cluster were also lower in 2023 than in 2022. Emissions were lower in the chemical and base metal industries, while the petroleum industry emitted more CO 2 .
Economy
Statistics Netherlands also calculates CO 2 emissions from all Dutch economic activities according to national calculations . In addition to emissions according to the definition of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) , CO 2 emissions from international aviation and maritime shipping and emissions from biomass combustion are also included.
In 2023, all Dutch economic activities emitted 5.5% less CO 2 than in 2022. However, gross domestic product (GDP) remained virtually the same in 2023. Adjusted for the weather effect, CO 2 emissions were 4.7% lower.
After 2015, the CO2 intensity of the Dutch economy has fallen continuously. The CO2 emission intensity of the economy was more than 30% lower in 2023 than in 2015. The climate law sets the target that the reduction must be 55% by 2030.
Further explanation of the IPCC guidelines can be found here .
Graphics: CBS
Bekijk al het nieuws