Greenhouse gas emissions go up

The total emissions of greenhouse gases in 2016 corresponded with 58.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2 eq.), according to Statistics Finland’s preliminary data.

Emissions grew by six per cent compared with the previous year but were still 18 per cent lower than in 1990.

The biggest reasons for the growth in the emissions were the increase in coal consumption and the decline in the proportion of biofuels used in transport.

Emissions from the non-emissions trading sector went up by five per cent compared to 2015 and exceeded the annual emission allocation set by the EU by 1.0 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

Statistics Finland releases instant preliminary data on greenhouse gas emissions of the year by sector and broken down between emissions trading sources and non-emissions trading sectors.

According to the instant preliminary data, total emissions increased by six per cent from 2015. Emissions in the energy sector grew by eight per cent year-on-year.

The biggest reasons for the growth in the emissions were the increase in coal consumption and the decline in the proportion of biofuels used in (road) transport.

In the industrial processes and product use sector, emissions rose by three per cent year-on-year, the growth was most affected by emissions from the mineral industry (13 per cent) and the chemical industry (11 per cent.) Emissions from agriculture remained at the same level as in 2015.

Emissions from waste management decreased by around four per cent. The carbon sink of the LULUCF sector decreased by eight per cent.