Fall in greenhouse gas emissions stagnating again, raising concerns over climate targets

The decline in greenhouse gas emissions has leveled off once more. Statistics Netherlands data show that total emissions in the third quarter remained roughly the same as a year ago. Although the industrial sector and transport sector released less CO2 and other greenhouse gases, emissions from the electricity sector jumped 20 percent because of higher coal use.

Industrial emissions fell by 6 percent compared with the third quarter of 2024. According to the statistics bureau, this was largely because energy-intensive chemical plants and refineries used less natural gas. In the transport sector, emissions dropped 5 percent, mainly as a result of lower diesel use.

Statistics Netherlands noted a modest drop in emissions last quarter, after a substantial 7 percent rise in the first quarter. That earlier increase was also largely due to greater coal consumption, which is needed when wind speeds are low, and wind turbines produce less electricity.

Under the Dutch Climate Act, greenhouse gas emissions, the primary cause of climate change, must reach net zero by 2050, with an interim target of a 55 percent reduction by 2030 compared with 1990.

The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) has concluded that achieving this goal is now highly unlikely, and under the Schoof cabinet, the chances of meeting the climate targets have deteriorated further.

The success and scale of planned CO₂ storage initiatives, such as the Aramis project, remain uncertain, yet they are essential for meeting climate goals. Emissions are influenced in part by industrial output, the growth of energy-intensive sectors like steel, chemicals, and greenhouse horticulture, and by broader economic recovery or expansion.