Greenhouse gas emissions 5 percent lower in Q2 2023

Reduced emissions in electricity sector, built environment and manufacturing

In Q2 2023, GHG emissions in the electricity sector were 23 percent lower than in the same quarter last year. The sector produced 42 percent less electricity from coal and 2 percent less from natural gas. At the same time, more electricity was generated from renewable sources compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The share of the electricity sector in GHG emissions amounted to 15 percent in Q2 2023.

The built environment (homes, offices, schools, care institutions, etc.) emitted 11 percent fewer greenhouse gases compared to one year previously. In the second and third quarters, the share in total GHG emissions was considerably lower than in the other two quarters. This is because less natural gas was needed to heat buildings during these months. In Q2 2023, the share was 7 percent.

GHG emissions from manufacturing were 5 percent lower in Q2 2023. They accounted for 35 percent of total emissions in the second quarter.

More mobility emissions

Just as in the first quarter of 2023, GHG emissions from mobility were higher in the second quarter compared to one year previously. These increases follow declines during the pandemic years. The increase of 7 percent in the second quarter was mainly caused by petrol consumption, which was 12 percent higher than in Q2 2022. The share of the mobility sector in total GHG emissions stood at 23 percent in Q2 2023.

Emissions in the agricultural sector were virtually the same as in Q2 2022.

Small part of emissions from land use

A small part of GHG emissions, 3 percent, is related to land use. This concerns, for example, the CO₂ emissions from oxidation of peat soils and the emissions associated with changes in land use.

From now on, emissions from the land use climate sector will be included in total GHG emissions, because they count towards the current Dutch target to reduce GHG emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030. Land use is also included in the climate targets of the European Union.

CBS 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 3 percent lower in Q2 2023

In Q2 2023, the Dutch economy emitted 3.2 percent less CO₂ than in Q2 2022, while gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.3 percent in the same period. Adjusted for the weather effect, the decline in CO₂ emissions amounted to 1.0 percent. The drop in emissions by the Dutch economy is mainly due to lower natural gas consumption by the electricity sector and households. On the other hand, emissions in the transport sector and the consumption of petrol by households were considerably higher.

In Q2, CO₂ emissions from mineral extraction, manufacturing and construction together were 5.0 percent lower than in the same quarter last year. The basic metal and chemical industries in particular emitted less CO₂. However, emissions from construction were higher.

The transport sector emitted 6.1 percent more CO₂. The increase was mainly due to the recovery of maritime transport and aviation. CO₂ emissions from aviation were over 9 percent higher than in Q2 2022.