Evaluation of non-CO2-greenhouse gas emission reductions in the Netherlands in the period 1990–2003

Abstract

In the Netherlands, several measures were implemented to curb the emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse (NCG) gases in the period 1990–2003. Without the implementation of these reduction measures, emissions of NCG gases in 2003 would have been 11 million tonnes of CO2-eq. higher. Policies which were already in place before specific NCG gas policies were introduced, are predominantly responsible for the reductions achieved so far. Roughly 80% of the achieved reductions in the Netherlands can be attributed to these policies, and 20% to a specific Dutch Reduction Plan on NCG gases that was introduced in 2000. Our analysis shows that the policies in place in the period 1990–2003 were very economical from the government point of view: almost half of the emission reductions can be achieved against costs below 5 euro per tonne CO2-eq. Whereas, for example, the cost-effectiveness of government CO2 reduction programmes in the housing sector ranged from 4 to over 300 euro per tonne of CO2-eq. in the period 1995–2002.