What volume of greenhouse gases do we emit?

The Netherlands emitted 149.5 billion kilograms of greenhouse gases (CO₂ equivalent) in 2023. This includes the total volume of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases emitted. Emissions in 2023 were 6 percent lower than in 2022.

Greenhouse gases in our atmosphere are causing global temperatures to rise. This means that greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced. The Climate Actnoot1 states that by 2030, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced to 55 percent lower than 1990 levels, or less. In 2023, greenhouse gas emissions were 34 percent lower than 1990 levels.

Show datatableGreenhouse gas emissions (bn kg of CO₂ equivalent)Hide datatableGreenhouse gas emissions (bn kg of CO₂ equivalent)

Greenhouse gas emissions (bn kg of CO₂ equivalent)

Jaar	2020 target (Urgenda)	2030 target (Climate Act)	Emissions
1990	171.1	103	228.1
1991	171.1	103	236.0
1992	171.1	103	236.3
1993	171.1	103	236.6
1994	171.1	103	237.3
1995	171.1	103	237.1
1996	171.1	103	247.3
1997	171.1	103	238.6
1998	171.1	103	239.3
1999	171.1	103	226.6
2000	171.1	103	225.2
2001	171.1	103	226.7
2002	171.1	103	224.6
2003	171.1	103	224.6
2004	171.1	103	226.3
2005	171.1	103	220.4
2006	171.1	103	215.0
2007	171.1	103	213.9
2008	171.1	103	214.1
2009	171.1	103	208.1
2010	171.1	103	219.7
2011	171.1	103	205.7
2012	171.1	103	201.2
2013	171.1	103	200.3
2014	171.1	103	193.0
2015	171.1	103	200.4
2016	171.1	103	200.7
2017	171.1	103	197.2
2018	171.1	103	191.9
2019	171.1	103	185.7
2020	171.1	103	168.8
2021	171.1	103	171.5
2022	171.1	103	158.4
2023*	171.1	103	149.5

‘Urgenda’ target has now been met comfortably

In addition to the target set in the Climate Act, there is also the ‘Urgenda’ target.noot2 This states that emissions must be at least 25 percent lower than 1990 levels by 2020 and in subsequent years. This target was met in 2020 (26.0 percent lower than 1990 levels), narrowly missed in 2021 (24.8 percent lower), but was achieved more comfortably in 2022 and 2023 (30.5 percent lower and 34.0 percent lower, respectively). In 2022, this was mainly because the Netherlands consumed much less natural gas due to higher gas prices. In 2023, meanwhile, more electricity was generated from solar and wind power, and less from coal and natural gas.

Industry responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions

The industrial sector is responsible for the majority of our greenhouse gas emissions, mainly in the form of CO₂. This sector emitted 3 percent less in 2023 than in 2022. Coal consumption fell by 21 percent, and natural gas consumption by 4 percent; however, more petroleum-based raw materials and products were used. Mobility (traffic and transport) and agriculture were the second and third-largest emitters in 2023. Greenhouse gas emissions as a result of generating electricity are falling steadily.

Show datatableGreenhouse gas emissions by sector (bn kg of CO₂ equivalent)Hide datatableGreenhouse gas emissions by sector (bn kg of CO₂ equivalent)

Greenhouse gas emissions by sector (bn kg of CO₂ equivalent)

Jaar	Sector	Electricity	Mobility	Built environment	Agriculture	Land use
1990	86.8	39.6	33.4	29.7	33.0	5.4
1991	88.2	40.1	33.8	34.0	34.4	5.5
1992	89.4	40.6	35.3	31.3	34.2	5.4
1993	85.7	41.9	36.1	33.2	34.3	5.5
1994	86.6	45.7	35.7	31.0	32.8	5.5
1995	81.9	47.8	36.3	33.1	32.8	5.3
1996	84.4	48.3	37.6	38.5	33.4	5.1
1997	84.0	48.5	37.4	32.6	31.1	4.9
1998	84.0	50.2	38.1	31.2	30.3	5.4
1999	76.1	47.2	39.1	29.6	29.5	5.1
2000	74.4	48.4	38.9	29.6	28.5	5.5
2001	70.5	51.9	39.0	31.4	27.9	6.0
2002	69.6	53.0	39.4	30.2	26.1	6.2
2003	68.4	53.7	39.8	31.3	25.9	5.5
2004	68.5	54.9	40.3	31.0	25.9	5.7
2005	66.7	52.1	40.6	29.3	26.1	5.6
2006	65.2	47.9	41.4	29.4	25.7	5.5
2007	64.5	50.6	40.4	26.3	26.4	5.8
2008	60.5	50.0	40.5	29.3	27.6	6.2
2009	56.6	49.9	38.8	29.4	27.6	5.9
2010	59.4	52.0	39.6	34.0	29.2	5.5
2011	58.2	47.8	39.6	26.6	27.7	5.7
2012	56.9	44.8	37.8	28.8	27.4	5.5
2013	56.4	44.9	36.3	30.0	27.7	5.0
2014	55.2	48.6	33.9	22.9	26.5	6.0
2015	55.1	53.1	34.0	24.4	27.5	6.3
2016	55.8	52.0	34.1	25.1	27.7	6.0
2017	56.6	48.3	34.6	24.6	27.9	5.2
2018	55.6	44.6	34.8	24.2	27.6	5.1
2019	54.6	41.5	34.2	23.1	27.5	4.7
2020	53.3	32.5	29.9	21.6	27.0	4.4
2021	53.6	32.4	29.7	24.3	27.0	4.4
2022	49.2	30.5	29.5	19.6	24.5	5.1
2023*	47.8	23.8	30.1	17.7	25.0	5.1

Emissions from agriculture and mobility up slightly in 2023

In 2023, greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture were 2 percent higher than in 2022. Emissions were relatively low in 2022 because less natural gas was used in greenhouse horticulture due to the elevated price of gas. Emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from livestock and manure remained almost unchanged in 2023, compared to previous years.

The mobility sector (transport) also emitted 2 percent more greenhouse gases in 2023 than in the previous year. This was mainly because more petrol was consumed.