Greenhouse gas emissions 9 percent lower in Q2 2022

Fewer emissions from manufacturing, agriculture and the built environment

Partly due to high natural gas prices and the relatively mild and sunny spring, less natural gas was consumed by virtually the entire economy and society. This led to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing, agriculture and the built environment (homes, offices, schools, care institutions, etc.). Natural gas consumption accounts for a relatively large share of energy consumption in these sectors and it is difficult to use other energy carriers for their business processes in the short term.

Electricity and mobility emissions unchanged

Output by the electricity sector was over 4 percent higher than in Q2 2021. However, due to the changed energy mix, CO₂ emissions remained virtually the same. The energy mix used for electricity output fluctuates more in the electricity sector than in other sectors.

Just as manufacturing, agriculture and the built environment, the electricity sector consumes relatively large volumes of natural gas, but due to high natural gas prices, less electricity was produced using natural gas. In contrast, more coal was used for electricity production due to relatively low prices for coal, despite increased carbon prices. In addition, a growing deployment of renewable energy carriers has been taking place for some time now, which compensates for the shift from natural gas to coal in terms of CO₂ emissions.

Greenhouse gas emissions from mobility were also approximately the same as in Q2 2021, as well as the development of motor fuel consumption by domestic road traffic.

Statistics Netherlands also calculates CO₂ emissions from all domestic economic activities according to the national accounts. Compared to emissions according to the IPCC definitions, this also includes the CO₂ emissions from international air and sea transport and the emissions from combustion of biomass. In the message below, the CO₂ emissions are presented in accordance with the calculation method of the national accounts.

CO₂ emissions by the Dutch economy over 6 percent lower

In Q2 2022, the Dutch economy emitted 6.4 percent less CO₂ than in Q2 2021, while GDP grew by 5.3 percent over this period. The value added was significantly higher in most sectors of the economy, while CO₂ emissions were lower. For example, emissions from manufacturing, mining and construction fell by 19 percent, while the value added grew by 4 percent. CO₂ emissions were particularly lower in the chemical, the petroleum and the basic metal industry.

The transport sector, on the other hand, emitted 22 percent more CO₂ than one year previously. The increase in emissions is mainly due to the partial recovery of aviation. CO₂ emissions from Dutch aviation were 61 percent higher than in the same quarter last year.