Emissions to air, by municipality, 1991-2006

In 2006, emissions of the three most important greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from municipalities amounted to almost 36 million tonnes. This accounted for 69 per cent of Norway’s total emissions of these gases. The remainder was emitted from oil and gas activities on the continental shelf, the maritime zones and airspace (over 100 m altitude). This is an increase of more than 4.3 million tonnes CO₂ equivalents, or 14 per cent, since 1991. In 166 of Norway’s 431 municipalities the relative growth in greenhouse gas emissions has been higher than that of all municipalities. In 103 municipalities, the emissions have been reduced, and in three of these by more than 50 per cent. Emissions of fluoride gases are not included in these figures, see Text box .

The most important sources of emission to air of greenhouse gases in the municipalities are the manufacturing industry, road traffic and agriculture (see Figure 1). These accounted for 14, 10 and 4 million tonnes CO₂ equivalents respectively in 2006. Emissions from road traffic increased by 2.4 million tonnes, and were the main reason for the growth.

Emissions of non-greenhouse gases distributed by municipality do not necessarily follow the same pattern. For instance, the emissions of NO_X were reduced by 29 per cent in the municipalities to slightly less than 84 000 tonnes in 2005. The emissions of NO_X in the municipalities only account for 44 per cent of the total emissions. Emissions of NO_X in the municipalities are dominated by three sources: manufacturing industry (23 per cent), road traffic (43 per cent) and other mobile combustion (29 per cent) (see Figure 2). While the emissions from the first two have been reduced by 11 and 50 per cent respectively since 1991, the emissions from other mobile sources have increased by 22 per cent.

Each municipality has its own story

There are great differences between the municipalities, both with regard to the size of the emissions, how the emissions have developed over time and the source of the emissions. Table 1 contains an overview of the sources with the largest contribution to the emission of greenhouse gases in the municipalities in 1991 and 2006 and for NO_X in 2005.

The sources that dominate the emissions in a municipality are highly dependent on the industrial structure of the municipality. The manufacturing industry contributed to almost 40 per cent of total emissions of the three most important greenhouse gases in the municipalities in 2006. However, these emissions were not evenly distributed. In 12 municipalities, manufacturing mining industries contributed to more than 90 per cent of the emissions, while in 363 municipalities this industry contributed to less than 10 per cent. In 71 municipalities, greenhouse gas emissions from the manufacturing industry more than doubled between 1991 and 2006, while more than half of the municipalities experienced a reduction in emissions from the manufacturing industry.

In several municipalities, agriculture is a considerable source of greenhouse gas emissions, even though the total contribution from agriculture was 12 per cent in 2006. In 47 municipalities, agriculture contributed to more than half of the greenhouse gas emissions.

Municipalities with big landfills can have considerable emissions of landfill gas (CH₄). However, the waste that causes theses emissions may also originate from other municipalities in the area.

Road traffic accounted for about 28 per cent of the three main greenhouse gases in 2006. Road traffic is by far the most important reason for the increase in the emissions of these gases.

Related material on the municipal figures:

• More statistics about air emissions

• Read more about greenhouse gas emissions here