Spain: The agricultural sector increased its GHG emissions by 0.6% in 2018
Just days before COP25 starts in Madrid, it has been officially published that the primary agricultural sector was responsible for 14.44% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2018, 0.6% more than in 2017.
![GEI actividad primaria](/binaries/medium/content/gallery/agroberichtenbuitenland/content-afbeeldingen/s/spanje/2019_nieuws/november/gei-de-la-actividad-primaria.png)
According to the Air Emission Accounts, the Spanish agricultural primary sector (agriculture, livestock, forestry and fishing) emitted 48.46 million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent, 0.6% more than in 2017 (Figs. 1 and 2).
![Fig. 1](/binaries/medium/content/gallery/agroberichtenbuitenland/content-afbeeldingen/s/spanje/2019_nieuws/november/fig.-1.-ghg-emissions-by-industry.png)
![Fig. 2](/binaries/medium/content/gallery/agroberichtenbuitenland/content-afbeeldingen/s/spanje/2019_nieuws/november/fig.-2.-ghg-of-agricultural-sector.png)
Of these 48.46 million tonnes, 43.55% were Methane emissions, representing 62.7% of all GHG emissions released by the country.
Another 29.4% were Nitrous Oxide emissions, which accounted for 78.8% of total N2O released by the primary activity.
Finally, the primary sector was also responsible for the emission of 4.6% of total Carbon Dioxide produced by the Spanish economy.
Considering the total Spanish economy, GHG emissions decreased by 2.3% in 2018, compared to the previous year (Fig. 3). Of the total 340.7 million tonnes, 83.4% were Carbon Dioxide (-1.9%), 9.8% were Methane (+0.1%) and 5.3% were Nitrous Oxide (-2.8%). Other GHGs decreased by 0.625%.
![Fig. 3](/binaries/medium/content/gallery/agroberichtenbuitenland/content-afbeeldingen/s/spanje/2019_nieuws/november/fig.-3-ghg-of-spanish-economy.png)
Source: Agronegocios