Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Germany were 1.9% lower in 2022 compared to 2021, while emissions in the Netherlands dropped by 9%.
In Germany, emissions fell to 746 MtCO2eq (15 MtCO2eq less than in 2021) helped by higher renewable electricity generation (+9%) and energy conservation efforts. However, emissions from the power generation sector increased by 4% in 2022 (256 MtCO2eq, +4%), notably due to the higher use of hard coal and lignite for a second year in a row and to an increased consumption of oil to offset a lower gas consumption (-11%).
Emissions slightly increased in transport (+0.7% to 148 MtCO2eq) but fell in industry (-10% to 164 MtCO2eq, due to the soaring energy costs that reduced energy consumption, especially in the chemical and metalworking branches), buildings (-5% to 112 Mt CO2eq, due to higher energy prices and milder temperatures) and agriculture (-1.5% to 62 MtCO2eq). Overall, GHG emissions were down more than 40% from 1990 levels. Germany aims to reduce GHG emissions by 65% in 2030 and to reach carbon neutrality by 2045.
In the Netherlands, emissions fell by 9% to around 152 MtCO2eq (also about 15 MtCO2eq less than in 2021) mainly due to higher natural gas prices that reduced gas consumption in industry, buildings and agriculture. Despite a decrease in GHG emissions, industry (-11% to 48 MtCO2eq) and power generation (-5% to 31 MtCO2eq) remained the main emitting sectors in 2022. Emissions remained stable in the transport sector (-1% to around 30 MtCO2eq) and fell in agriculture (-10% to 24 MtCO2eq) and buildings (-21% to 20 MtCO2eq). In 2022, emissions were 32% below their 1990 levels. The country targets a 49% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030.