Greenhouse gas emissions remained virtually the same in Q3 2024

Greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector continue to fall

As in the first half of this year, greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector were lower in Q3 204 than in Q3 2023. This is because an increased amount of energy is generated from wind and sun, which reduces natural gas consumption for electricity production. At 7 percent, the drop in emissions was smaller than in the first half of the year, when emissions were 17 percent lower.

The decline in the third quarter of 2024 was smaller because power stations used more coal to generate electricity than they did in Q3 2023. CO₂ emissions from coal consumption are higher than from natural gas for the same amount of electricity produced. The share of the electricity sector in total greenhouse gas emissions in Q3 was 15 percent.

Higher emissions from manufacturing and the built environment

The manufacturing sector emitted 1 percent more greenhouse gases in Q3 2024 than one in Q3 2023. The sector consumed less oil, but more natural gas and coal. Emissions by the built environment sector were 13.5 percent higher.

Higher emissions from the manufacturing and the built environment sectors almost completely offset the decrease in emissions by the electricity sector. The increase in emissions from the manufacturing sector was small, but its share in total greenhouse gas emissions was 37 percent. However, the share of the built environment sector was relatively low at 5 percent, because houses and buildings are merely heated in the summer.

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 CO₂ emissions from international air and sea transport and emissions from the combustion of biomass. In the news release below, CO₂ emissions are described in accordance with the calculation method set out in the national accounts.

CO₂ emissions from the Dutch economy nearly 3 percent lower

The Dutch economy emitted 2.9 percent less CO₂ in Q3 2024 than in Q2 2023, while gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 1.7 percent over the same period. The decrease in CO₂ emissions was mainly due to lower usage of natural gas and biomass by power stations and lower emissions by the transport sector.

Total emissions are also related to weather conditions, and are lower when it is warmer. The third quarter of 2023 was warmer and so, less natural gas was needed for heating, leading to lower emissions. After adjusting for this factor, the decline in CO₂ emissions by the Dutch economy was 4.2 percent.

The energy sector emitted 12.8 percent less CO₂ than in the third quarter of 2023. The decline in the transport sector was 2.3 percent. This was mainly due to lower use of fossil fuels in maritime transport and inland shipping. Aviation emissions were slightly higher, up by 1.5 percent.

However, CO₂ emissions were higher among households and other services at 4.6 and 3.9 percent, respectively. This can largely be explained by the fact that September weather in particular, was quite warm last year.

In Q3, CO₂ emissions from the agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing and construction sectors were at the same level as in Q3 2023. However, this varies among the various industries. For example, the base metal industry emitted more CO₂ due to higher use of coal, while basic chemicals emitted less CO2 due to lower use of petroleum products.