Spain CO2 emissions decreased 15.6% amid the pandemic

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the Spanish economy decreased by 15.6% in 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, to stand at 274.6 million tons.

According to the Spanish statistical office (INE), 2020 was the third consecutive year of decreases in Spanish greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In order to compare the emissions to the atmosphere of greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide, all other gases (such as methane and nitrous oxide) are converted to their carbon dioxide equivalent value.

Between 2008 (the first year of the statistical series) and 2020, the decrease in CO2 emissions was 34.6%, according to the INE.

One of the most striking results is that, despite the closures and confinements caused by the pandemic, the emissions of Spanish households fell in a similar proportion to the total (15.4%) compared to the previous year. They amounted to 57.3 million tons, which represented 20.9% of the total.

Emissions in 2020 by industry

The Manufacturing Industry concentrated 25.8% of the total emissions in 2020. Agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing emitted 18.2% of the total.

The branches of activity that decreased their emissions the most in 2020 were Transport and storage (–30.1%) and Supply of electricity, gas, steam, air conditioning and water (–21.3%).

Household emissions have decreased by 25% since 2008.