Dutch aviation hits record CO2 emissions as industrial output rises again
For the first time in seven years, greenhouse gas emissions from major Dutch companies increased in 2024, driven in part by a record spike in aviation-related emissions, according to new data released Monday by the Dutch Emissions Authority (NEa), as reported by Trouw.
The aviation sector saw its carbon dioxide emissions climb by 17 percent to 3.1 million tons, the highest level ever recorded in the Netherlands. “This only includes flights within Europe,” said NEa Director Mark Bressers, noting that long-haul flights, which are especially harmful to the climate, are not counted in the data. Airlines have tried to reduce their emissions by using biofuels, but that effort has been outweighed by the rising number of flights, the NEa said.
The overall increase in emissions follows a seven-year downward trend. The 330 large companies required to report under the EU Emissions Trading System released 1.8 million tons more CO2 in 2024 than the year before. With the exception of a slight uptick in 2021 following the COVID-19 lockdowns, emissions had been falling sharply each year since 2016.
The reversal comes as the Dutch government struggles to meet its 2030 climate targets. Climate Minister Sophie Hermans is expected to announce new measures in the upcoming Spring Fiscal Statement.
Talks over subsidies with the country's biggest polluters have stalled. Hermans recently informed the Tweede Kamer that only five of the fifteen largest emitters are on track to reach “custom agreements” on emissions reduction.
The overall increase in industrial emissions was mainly due to higher steel production at Tata Steel, which had one of its blast furnaces offline for maintenance in 2023. Meanwhile, oil refineries slightly reduced emissions, while the chemical sector saw a small increase, according to NEa.
Production has been reportedly ramping up after two years of decline driven by the natural gas crisis. “The question is whether companies can reduce emissions even as output grows,” said Bressers. “They will need to innovate and use fewer fossil fuels.” However, many companies are delaying green investments due to high electricity prices and grid congestion.
Some chemical firms have already announced closures in Rotterdam. A "dunkelflaute" — a prolonged period of low wind and cloud cover — in late 2024 also forced power plants to rely more heavily on coal and natural gas.
NEa’s figures cover emissions from companies participating in the EU trading system, where firms must buy permits to release CO2. That cost is expected to rise, pressuring companies to adopt cleaner technologies. The biggest industrial polluters include Dow Chemical, fertilizer maker Yara, and major energy firms — as well as lesser-known companies like small brickworks.
Together, these businesses account for roughly half of the Netherlands' total emissions. “The easy solutions for sustainability have been exhausted. Now it’s time for the expensive investments,” said Bressers, pointing to long-term plans to store CO2 in depleted gas fields beneath the North Sea.
