Greenhouse gas emissions in Catalonia fall by 5.5% in 2023

Greenhouse gas emissions in Catalonia fell by 5.5% in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to the provisional estimate of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) emissions from Catalonia's emissions monitor. 

It estimates that Catalonia produced 39.7m metric tons of CO2-eq, 1.7% less than in 2021, when emissions were almost 40.4m metric tons of CO2-eq. 

The figures show a change in trend from the previous two years, when emissions grew following a sharp decline during the pandemic in 2020. 

Fossil fuel consumption fell, with a 9% reduction in natural gas consumption and a 2% reduction in fuels for road transport, ie. petrol and diesel. 

Consumption of electricity produced through greenhouse-gas emitting methods fell by 16%.  

Although the study did not analyze the underlying causes that led to the decrease in emissions, some possible reasons put forward include improved industrial efficiency, more responsible energy consumption in homes, changes in mobility patterns, technological changes, more renewable energy and an increase in self-consumption – people producing and consuming their own energy. 

Far from targets

The figures indicate that Catalonia is still "very far" from reaching the targets established in the Paris Agreement and the recommendations of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 

According to the latter, emissions should not exceed 24.8m metric tons of CO2-eq, 37% less than 2023 emissions, and should be reduced by more than 6% annually from 2024. 

The report was based on an analysis of the energy, industry, agriculture and livestock, and waste sectors. 

It looked at production, not consumption, so it does not take into account emissions that are generated in the manufacture and transport of products consumed in Catalonia but produced elsewhere. Nor does it include most emissions from aviation and shipping.