CO2 emissions from road traffic up by nearly three percent in 2022 | Statistics Netherlands (CBS)

Road traffic accounted for 17% of the total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the Netherlands in 2022. Nearly 57 percent of CO₂ emissions from road traffic were attributable to passenger cars. Overall, CO₂ emissions from passenger cars totalled 15.3 billion kg in 2022, which represented an increase of over 2.8 percent compared with 2021.

Decrease in CO₂ emissions per kilometre by passenger cars

Passenger cars travelled over 5.6 percent more kilometres in 2022 compared to the previous year. At the same time, CO₂ emissions per kilometre declined by 3.2 percent. This was partly due to an increase in the proportion of kilometres driven in electric vehicles.

The CO₂ in exhaust gases from road traffic is produced when the carbon present in motor fuels undergoes combustion. CO₂ emissions from motor fuel are correlated with fuel consumption, and thus to the number of kilometres driven. The weight of the vehicle also affects CO₂ emissions.

Increase in CO₂ emissions from light and heavy commercial vehicles

Light and heavy commercial vehicles combined accounted for nearly 41 percent of CO₂ emissions from road traffic in 2022. CO₂ emissions from light and heavy commercial vehicles increased by 2.6 and 2.9 percent, respectively, compared to 2021. This was mainly due to an increase in the number of kilometres driven by commercial vehicles. At the same time, CO₂ emissions per kilometre remained almost unchanged.

Emissions from buses down by the most, compared to 2019

Buses and coaches account for a relatively small share (1.3 percent) of CO₂ emissions from road traffic. This class of vehicle saw the biggest fall in CO₂ emissions in 2022, compared to 2019, at 31.2 percent.

CO₂ emissions from passenger cars also fell compared to 2019, by 11.2 percent. CO₂ emissions from light and heavy commercial vehicles actually went up by 4.0 and 5.2 percent, respectively, in the same period.