Netherlands greenhouse gas emissions up 5 pct. last year

Greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands was five percent higher in 2015 than in 2014, according to figures released by Statistics Netherlands on Monday.

According to the statistics office, the increase can partly be attributed to more power plants using polluting coal to generate power and less natural gas last year. More gas was also burned for heating homes and offices in 2015 than in 2014.

In 2030 the greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands should be 40 percent lower than in 1990, according to European climate target. A court ruling in the Urgenda case also stated that the government has to make sure the amount of carbon dioxide emitted is 25 percent lower in 2020 than it was in 1990.

Statistics Netherlands reports that last year the greenhouse gas emissions was 12 percent lower than in 1990. If carbon dioxide is left out of the calculation, emissions were down 50 percent.

A study by CE Delft revealed last week that at least one or two of the new coal plants in the Netherlands will have to close if the government hopes to meet the targets set in the Urgenda case.