In 2022, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Netherlands were 9 per cent lower than in 2021. This was mainly due to lower natural gas consumption in manufacturing and other sectors, as per a report. Last year, GHG emissions were more than 30 per cent below the 1990 level for the first time. The Dutch climate law has set a target of 55 per cent reduction by 2030.

Due to higher natural gas prices, substantial cuts were made in the consumption of natural gas. In addition, the weather was milder last year compared to 2021. As a result, less natural gas was used to heat homes and offices, according to a report by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)/Emissions Register.

GHG emissions from manufacturing were 11 per cent lower. This is also due to higher natural gas prices. Large-scale natural gas-intensive industries (especially petroleum and chemical industries) adapted their production processes to this by using less natural gas or partially shut down their production. Consumption of coal and petroleum products in manufacturing remained virtually unchanged. At 32 per cent, manufacturing held the largest share in total GHG emissions.

The electricity sector, which accounted for 20 per cent of emissions in 2022, emitted 5 per cent fewer greenhouse gases in 2022 compared to the previous year. This is mainly because the production of renewable electricity grew to 40 per cent in 2022. Due to this growth and high natural gas prices, gas-fired power stations used less natural gas. Coal-fired power stations consumed almost the same amount of coal compared to the previous year.

In 2022, the Dutch economy emitted 8.4 per cent less CO2 than in 2021. This also includes the CO2 emissions from international air and sea transport and the emissions from combustion of biomass in the Netherlands. Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 4.5 per cent in 2022. Adjusted for the weather effect, the decline in CO2 emissions amounted to 6.6 per cent. The drop in emissions from the Dutch economy is mainly because of lower natural gas consumption.

However, the transport sector emitted more CO2. This is mainly due to the partial recovery of aviation in 2022. CO2 emissions from aviation were over 32 per cent higher than in 2021. Compared to 2019, emissions in this sector were still over 20 per cent lower in 2022. Emissions from inland shipping were also higher. On the other hand, emissions from road transport and maritime transport were lower than in 2021.

Since 2016, the CO2 intensity of the Dutch economy has declined continuously. This means that the CO2 efficiency of production processes continues to improve. The greenhouse gas intensity of the economy as a whole was one fifth lower in 2022 than in 2015.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)

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Netherlands' GHG emissions 9% lower in 2022 than 2021