Greenhouse gases, fine particles and ozone precursor gases were up slightly in 2021 in Belgium, according to the Planning Bureau’s latest air emissions data, issued on Friday.
However, all remained below their pre-pandemic values, with 2021 still marked by a global slowdown.
In 2021, the greenhouse gas index, which is dominated by CO2, rose by 2%, after falling by 9.5% in 2020, a year marked by a peak in the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2021, industrial sectors accounted for 37% of total greenhouse gas emissions, the share of households was 25%, while the energy sector accounted for 12%.
The year was also marked by a slight increase in substances such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), which cause ozone to form in the lower layers of the atmosphere and can lead to significant health risks.
“The industrial sectors account for the largest share (34% in 2021), although this has fallen in recent years," notes the Planning Bureau. "The share of households (29%) and agriculture (20%) is smaller, but has been rising in recent years.”
Fine-particle emissions were also up in 2021 compared with 2020, but were still lower than before the pandemic.
