CO2 emissions from road traffic up by nearly three percent in 2022

Road traffic accounted for 17% of the total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the Netherlands in 2022. Nearly 57 percent of CO₂ emissions from road traffic were attributable to passenger cars. Overall, CO₂ emissions from passenger cars totalled 15.3 billion kg in 2022, which represented an increase of over 2.8 percent compared with 2021.

Decrease in CO₂ emissions per kilometre by passenger cars

Passenger cars travelled over 5.6 percent more kilometres in 2022 compared to the previous year. At the same time, CO₂ emissions per kilometre declined by 3.2 percent. This was partly due to an increase in the proportion of kilometres driven in electric vehicles.

The CO₂ in exhaust gases from road traffic is produced when the carbon present in motor fuels undergoes combustion. CO₂ emissions from motor fuel are correlated with fuel consumption, and thus to the number of kilometres driven. The weight of the vehicle also affects CO₂ emissions.

Increase in CO₂ emissions from light and heavy commercial vehicles

Emissions from buses down by the most, compared to 2019

Buses and coaches account for a relatively small share (1.3 percent) of CO₂ emissions from road traffic. This class of vehicle saw the biggest fall in CO₂ emissions in 2022, compared to 2019, at 31.2 percent.

CO₂ emissions from passenger cars also fell compared to 2019, by 11.2 percent. CO₂ emissions from light and heavy commercial vehicles actually went up by 4.0 and 5.2 percent, respectively, in the same period.