What is our greenhouse gas footprint?

The Netherlands’ per capita greenhouse gas footprint in 2020 was 13.0 tons of CO₂ equivalent. That figure relates to greenhouse gas emissions attributable to economic consumption in the Netherlands. It thus includes greenhouse gases emitted elsewhere due to products and services purchased by people living in the Netherlands, for example.

In 2020, our greenhouse gas footprint was lower due in part to the coronavirus pandemic, but in 2021 it increased by over 2.4 tons per capita compared to 2020 (or about 18 percent). In 2008, per capita greenhouse gas emissions were 19.8 tons. That means that between 2008 and 2021, the Netherlands’ per capita greenhouse gas footprint shrank by nearly 20 percent.

Per capita emissions from the Dutch economy, including greenhouse gases released as a result of the production of goods and services in the Netherlands, have been declining since 2015 (with the exception of 2021, when emissions rebounded after a sharp fall in 2020).

However, people who live in the Netherlands also buy products and services from abroad. The greenhouse gases released as a result of producing those products and services can be attributed to Dutch economic consumption. Similarly, greenhouse gas emissions released as a result of the production of products and services that are exported can be attributed to economic consumption abroad.

In the period 2008-2021, the balance of these emissions – imports minus exports – was positive. This means that more greenhouse gases are emitted abroad as a result of Dutch economic consumption than vice versa. The emissions balance decreased from 5.3 tons to 2.0 tons of CO₂ equivalent per capita between 2008 and 2017. As the Dutch economy picked up once again, the balance rose to 4.2 tons per capita by 2021. In 2020, as per capita greenhouse gas emissions reached their lowest level since 2008. The balance rebounded again in 2021, but remained below the 2019 level.