Aviation responsible for half of transport sector's emissions

Last year the Dutch transport sector emitted 26 billion kilograms of CO2 equivalents of greenhouse gases, almost as much as in 2012. Aviation was responsible for 49 percent of those emissions, water transport for 26 percent, and road transport for 21 percent, according to figures Statistics Netherlands released on Wednesday.

The transport sector is responsible for 12 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions from the Dutch economy. Greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector increased by 3 percent since 2010, while the total emissions from the Dutch economy decreased by 8 percent in that time. The increase in transport emissions is entirely attributable to aviation, plus 13 percent. Emissions by water and road transport decreased by 2 percent and 8 percent respectively.

A large part of the Dutch transport activities happen outside the Netherlands. As a result, 75 percent of the sector's greenhouse gases are emitted abroad. With regard to sea shipping, 93 percent of emissions are outside Dutch territorial waters. Aviation emissions are 95 percent outside the Dutch borders. 30 percent of road transport and 38 percent of inland shipping's emissions happen abroad.

Transport is an emission-intensive industry, as a lot of CO2 emitting motor fuels are used in the sector. Aviation and water transport in particular cause much more greenhouse gasses per euro of added value than the average in the Dutch economy, according to the stats office. The emission intensity of the transport sector decreased by 8 percent between 2010 and 2018, while that of the Dutch economy as a whole decreased by 18 percent.