CO2 Emissions per Capita: Netherlands

Analysis# Netherlands CO2 Emissions per Capita The Netherlands emitted 6.602 metric tons of CO2 per capita in 2024, reaching its lowest point in the 55-year dataset. This represents a dramatic 45% reduction from the peak of 12.096 metric tons recorded in 1996, and a 35.8% decline since 1970. The country has substantially decoupled economic activity from carbon intensity over five decades. The steepest emissions reductions occurred between 2015 and 2024, when per capita CO2 dropped from 9.997 to 6.602 metric tons—a 34% decrease in just nine years. A notable acceleration happened in 2020, when lockdowns and economic contraction pushed emissions down to 8.151 metric tons, followed by continued decline despite economic recovery. The consistent downward trajectory through 2024 suggests the Netherlands is maintaining momentum in its decarbonization efforts.