Emissions in energy supply, transport decline

Greenhouse gas emissions produced by Finnish residents and other emissions into air not included in greenhouse gases decreased in 2017.

Greenhouse gas emissions produced by Finnish residents in Finland and abroad amounted to 59 million tonnes, which was almost five per cent less than in the previous year, according to Statistics Finland.

The drop was biggest in land transport, where emissions decreased by 10 per cent compared to 2016. Carbon dioxide emissions from biomass, in turn, grew by five per cent from the previous year, being 40 million tonnes. Other emissions than greenhouse gas emissions also decreased. The biggest drop of nearly 11 per cent was seen in sulphur dioxide emissions.

The main reason for the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions was a decrease in emissions in energy supply.

Emissions in energy supply declined 10 per cent from the year before. All other emissions into air not included in greenhouse gases also decreased in energy supply compared to 2016. The biggest change, a 17 per cent drop, was seen in sulphur dioxide emissions.

Energy supply’s annual emission volumes have varied considerably, especially on account of electricity imports and production of fossil condensate energy, whose volumes are, in turn, dependent on the availability of hydro power in the Nordic electricity market.

The fact that the share of biofuels increased in transport fuels also lowered greenhouse gas emissions. This is particularly visible in the industry of land transport, where emissions fell by 10 per cent from compared previous year’s volume and in households where emissions decreased by close on two per cent compared to 2016.