Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Netherlands were 2% lower year on year in 2018, the national statistical office, Statistics Netherlands (CBS), announced late Thursday.
GHG emissions totaled 189.5 billion CO2 equivalents, a reduction of 4.2 billion CO2 equivalents, or 2% less than the previous year, according to the office.
This was due to less coal usage in electricity production, and a decline in the emission intensity of the Dutch economy, CBS said.
"The bulk of this reduction (75%) is related to lower CO2 emissions by energy companies. The remaining part can be attributed to a reduced cattle herd (lower methane emissions), which in turn is related to the introduction of the phosphate rights trading system and to lower CO2 emissions by the manufacturing industry," the CBS detailed.
The Netherlands aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 to a 25% lower level than in 1990. In 2018, emissions were down by 14.5% relative to 1990.
According to the most recent figures available - in 2017 at the European level, greenhouse gas emissions per capita were fairly high in the Netherlands at 11.3 tonnes of CO2 equivalents, or 34% above the EU average.
- Economy up, emissions down
The CBS noted that relative to three years previously, GHG emissions dropped by 3% in 2018 while the Dutch economy grew by 8%.
"This means that the emission intensity of the Dutch economy has declined by 10%. This is partly related to the closure of old coal plants, an increase in renewable energy consumption, continuing energy savings and a growing share of the service sector in the total economy. As a result, last year’s emission intensity was down by 44% relative to 1990," the Dutch statistical office explained.
By Ebru Sengul
Anadolu Agency