Lower CO2 emissions in third quarter of 2019

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© Hollandse Hoogte / Peter Hilz
In the third quarter of 2019, CO<sub>2</sub> emissions in the Netherlands were down by 4.4 percent year-on-year. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.9 percent at the same time, according to the second estimate. The decline in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions was mainly due to energy companies using less coal and more natural gas for their electricity production. CO<sub>2</sub> emissions by households and the services sector, on the other hand, were higher than one year previously. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on the latest quarterly figures on CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.

It was slightly less warm in Q3 2019 than in the same quarter of 2018. Adjusted for this weather effect, CO2 emissions were 4.9 percent lower than one year previously.

CO2 emissions and economic development, Q3 2019
CategoriesCO2-emissions (year-on-year volume change in %)Value added by producers (year-on-year volume change in %)GDP (year-on-year volume change in %)
Dutch economy (weather adjusted)-4.9
Dutch economy-4.41.9
Energy, water supply and
waste treatment
-12.70.6
Agriculture, mining, manufacturing
and construction
-5.42.2
Transport sector1.71.1
Households2.9
Other services3.11.9

Lower CO2 emissions by energy companies

In Q3 2019, CO2 emissions by energy, water and waste management companies were down by nearly 13 percent year-on-year. These companies accounted for nearly 29 percent of total CO2 emissions. Electricity companies used less coal and more natural gas in their production process. Combustion of natural gas results in lower CO2 emissions than coal combustion. Furthermore, more electricity was generated from renewable energy sources than one year previously. Electricity production and the value added by the electricity companies were slightly higher than in Q3 2018.

CO2 emissions down in agriculture and manufacturing

In Q3 2019, emissions of CO2 in the cluster agriculture, mining, manufacturing industry and construction were over 5 percent down on one year previously. This cluster was responsible for over 26 percent of total emissions in the that quarter. The petroleum industry emitted more CO2 while emissions by the chemical industry and the metal industry were lower than one year previously.

Higher CO2 emissions by households and services sector

CO2 emissions by households were nearly 3 percent higher than one year previously. More natural gas was used for heating of homes and motor fuel consumption was up as well. In Q3 2019, households occupied a share in total CO2 emissions exceeding 17 percent. CO2 emissions by the services sector were up by over 3 percent year-on-year. The share of the services sector in total emissions stood at nearly 11 percent.

Transport sector emits more CO2

CO2 emissions by the transport sector were up by nearly 2 percent year-on-year in Q3 2019. This sector accounted for over 17 percent of total emissions. Emissions by the aviation sector, road haulage and inland shipping increased, while maritime shipping emissions decreased.

Contributions of CO2 emissions by households and industries, Q3 2019
CategoriesShare
Energy, water supply and
waste treatment
28.8
Agiculture, mining, manufacturing and
construction
26.2
Other services10.7
Transport sector17.3
Households17

The calculation of CO2 emissions is consistent with the definitions used in the Environmental Accounts. This is a first estimate based on information available at that particular moment. Figures may change as a result of new statistical source information becoming available at a later stage.