Portugal's increase in CO2 emissions second biggest in EU

By TPN/Lusa, in News · 05-05-2016 08:38:00 · 0 Comments

Carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector increased slightly in the European Union in 2015 but in Portugal they rose faster, recording the second largest increase among member states, the EU's statistical office said on Wednesday.

According to the estimates released on Tuesday by Eurostat, EU-wide emissions of CO2 from fossil fuels, which scientists say are the main factor in global warming and climate change, rose 0.7% from 2014 levels.

In Portugal, emissions rose 8.6%, a rate only exceeded by Slovakia, with 9.5%.

Malta, Estonia, Denmark and Finland had the largest decreases in emissions.

CO2 contributes 80% to all greenhouse gas emissions, which the EU, like other signatories of December's United Nations agreement on climate change, is trying to reduce by means of measures above all in the energy and transport sectors.

Portugal has two big coal-fired power stations, at Sines and at Pego, and their use depends on various factors, including consumption levels lined to the country's economic situation and meteorological conditions, given that in dry years less rainfall means lower output from hydro-electric power.