Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Netherlands 1990-2006

Emission trends in the 1990-2006 period

The greenhouse gas emissions presented here comply to the IPCC definition, which excludes temperature correction, CO2 from biomass, changes in land use and forestry (LULUCF), and international bunkers (fuels for ships and air planes).

In 2006 the total CO2-equivalent emissions of the six greenhouse gases together decreased by about 3% compared to the base year (1990 for CO2, CH4, N2O and 1995 for fluorinated gases) as show in the figure below. Compared to 2005 the total CO2-equivalent emissions decreased by about 2%, mainly due to decreased emissions in the sector 'Energy' and the continuously decreasing methane emissions from the sector 'Waste'.

During the period 1990-2006 the emissions of carbon dioxide increases by about 8%, while methane and nitrous oxide emissions decrease by respectively 36% and 15%. The total emission of fluorinated gases (HFC, PFC and SF6) has decreased since the base year (1995) by approximately 76%. Both emissions of HFC and PFC decreased by 73% and 84% respectively, while the SF6 emission decreased by 29%.

Changes with respect to the National Inventory Report of 2007 (NIR 2007)

The National System is used to calculate 'the Netherlands ' emission ceiling under the Kyoto Protocol. In 2007 the UN performed an in-country review of the NIR 2006 and the initial review under the Kyoto Protocol. As result of this review methodological changes were implemented. These changes are related to the complete emission period (1990-2006).

As result of the recalculations the total CO2-equivalent emissions of the six greenhouse gases together decreased in the base year (1990/1995) by 1.4 Tg, and in 2005 by 0.3 Tg.

For more information visit the following websites:

• Netherlands Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR)
• Annual European Community greenhouse gas inventory 1990-2006 and inventory report 2008