Catalan industry increased greenhouse gas emissions by 4% in 2017

Catalan industry increased its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 4% in 2017 –with 0.5 million tons more than the previous year– followed by electricity generation, which rose by 3.6% –0.2 million more– and transport, with 2.5% more emissions –0.3 more–, according to data from the Catalan Office of Climate Canvi (OCCC),

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Territory and Sustainability of the Generalitat has linked this increase to the strong drought in the whole of the State, which caused the combined cycles to intensify their electricity production to compensate for the decrease in hydroelectric production.

In total, total polluting gas emissions grew by 2% in Catalonia that year, to 45.07 million tons of CO₂ equivalent –N2O, HFCs, PFCs and SF6–, a rise that continues for the fourth consecutive year and has been 0.9 million tons more than in 2016.

Emissions have followed an increasing evolution in Catalonia since 1990, but in 2005 there was a historical peak of 58.43 million tons of _CO2 equivalent that was maintained until 2007, when the trend was reversed and annual emissions fell until 2013, when it rose again.

CEMENT AND ELECTRICITY

The industrial and transport sectors generated more than half of the greenhouse gases in Catalonia in 2017, with 31% and 28% of total emissions, respectively, followed by the energy sector (15%) and agriculture and livestock (11%)

In fact, the sectors that are regulated by the European Emissions Trading Directive increased their polluting gases by 6.2% “mainly due to the increase in cement production plants, in electricity production facilities, as well as in cogeneration facilities”.

In the sectors that are not part of this directive, the diffuse sectors – building, transport, agriculture, waste and fluorinated gases –, emissions remained stable, with a decrease of 0.01% compared to 2016.

Transport sectors have risen by 2.5%, while the residential sector has not changed, and those of agriculture have fallen, the

Emissions follow a downward trend when compared to GDP growth: “The Catalan economy is increasingly efficient at generating wealth by emitting less GHG and, therefore, less carbon-intensive,” the department said.

Emissions per GDP stand in Catalonia at 198 grams of _CO2 per euro, below the average of the whole of the State of 290 grams and those of the European Union, of 288

CLIMATE EMERGENCY

The Energy and Climate Change Plan 2012-2020, made within the framework of the European Energy and Climate Package 2020, establishes a 25% reduction in total emissions in Catalonia in 2020 compared to those of 2005, which must be achieved by reducing diffuse emissions by 15% in 2020 compared to 2005.

In relation to total emissions, in 2017 emissions were reduced by 23% in relation to those of 2005, while the totals are 16% less, so the Ministry considers that Catalonia is on “the right path to achieve compliance with the objectives” European, although it will make an additional effort in the face of the climate emergency.

Source: Europe Press