Greenhouse gas emissions in the first quarter of this year were 11 percent lower than in the same period a year earlier. This is evident from figures published on Wednesday by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Statistics Netherlands, together with RIVM, calculated the greenhouse gas emissions on the basis of the guidelines of the UN climate working group IPCC.
According to Statistics Netherlands, this decrease is mainly due to the fact that a quarter less natural gas was used in the past year. High energy and gas prices played a role in this, as well as the relatively warm first quarter in which less heating was required. In addition, more low-emission energy sources such as wind or solar energy have been used in the past year.
Last year, greenhouse gas emissions actually increased in three of the four quarters. As a result, measured greenhouse gas emissions rose by 2.1 percent over the whole of 2021 compared to the previous year. As a result, the Netherlands again went beyond the limits of the Urgenda judgment. The court ordered the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent in 2020 compared to 1990. It was successful – the decrease was 25.5 percent. After the increase in 2021, the reduction was again less than 25 percent.