Lower emissions of greenhouse gases from transport
The emissions of greenhouse gases from transport were almost two percent lower in 2008 than in 2007. This was mainly due to lower emissions from road traffic and domestic navigation. These sources are responsible for 90 percent of the emissions from transport.
Since the previous publication of preliminary emission figures for 2008, more data has been collected, and new calculations of national greenhouse gas emissions have been made. The figures that are published today are more accurate and are given at a more detailed level. The new calculations confirm that Norwegian greenhouse gas emissions went down by 2.2 percent from 2007 to 2008. The reduction is primarily due to reduced consumption of fossil fuels, particularly within transport. Investments in environmental technology in the production of mineral fertilizers also contributed to the reductions. The oil and gas activity emitted more greenhouse gases than the manufacturing industry for the first time ever in 2008.
| 2008 | Percent change
2007-2008 |
Percent change
1990-2008 |
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| Total | 54.0 | -2.2 | 7.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oil and gas extraction | 14.6 | -0.5 | 78.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturing industries | 14.1 | -4.4 | -27.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Road traffic | 10.2 | -1.4 | 31.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fishing vessels and coastal traffic | 3.6 | -8.1 | 12.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other mobile sources | 3.5 | 0.9 | 31.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agriculture | 4.3 | 1.6 | -2.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heating and other stationary combustion | 1.6 | -7.4 | -38.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Waste | 1.3 | -3.6 | -29.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other emissions | 1.0 | 6.5 | 168.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Source: Emission inventory from Statistics Norway and the Climate and Pollution Agency. |
Lower emissions from road traffic and navigation
After many years of continuous growth in greenhouse gas emissions from transport, the emissions were reduced by almost 300 000 tonnes CO2 equivalents (1.9 percent) from 2007 to 2008. Most of this reduction came in emissions from road traffic and domestic navigation and fishing, where emissions went down by 1.4 and 8.1 percent respectively.
The reduction in emissions from road traffic in 2008 can partly be explained by lower activity at the end of the year as a result of the turbulence in the financial market. This is especially prominent in the freight transportation and taxi industry. The decrease may also be due to more energy efficient vehicles, a transition from petrol to diesel vehicles, and an increased share of biofuel. Emissions from road traffic were nonetheless 31 percent higher in 2008 than in 1990.
Increased emissions from aviation
While greenhouse gas emissions from other types of transport were reduced from 2007 to 2008, the emissions from railways and domestic aviation increased during the same period. The greenhouse gas emissions from domestic aviation increased by approximately 14 percent. Emissions from railways and aviation comprise less than 9 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from transport, and less than 3 percent of total Norwegian greenhouse gas emissions.
Somewhat higher emissions than previously calculated
The total Norwegian greenhouse gas emissions were 54.0 million tonnes CO2 equivalents in 2008. This is somewhat higher (0.2 million tonnes) than previously estimated for 2008. This is partly because the inventory now includes emissions of methane and N2 O from well testing in the oil and gas activity for all years. The inclusion of this source has led to an increase in the estimated 1990 emissions of about 0.5 million tonnes. The recalculated greenhouse gas emissions in 1990 were 50.2 million tonnes CO2 equivalents. The upward adjustment of the greenhouse gas emissions in 1990 will not have any influence on Norway’s allocated quotas according to the Kyoto protocol. These quotas were determined relative to the emissions as calculated during the winter of 2005/2006.
Better waste statistics gave lower estimates for methane emissions
Increased knowledge about the amount and type of deposited waste has resulted in lower estimates on methane emissions from waste deposits than previously published. For 1990 the change was insignificant, but for 2008 the emissions are reduced by approximately 11 percent, or 130,000 tonnes CO2 equivalents. Methane emissions from waste now comprise less than 2 percent of the total Norwegian greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: Statistics Norway
