Cars and trucks emit less CO2 for the first time since the pandemic
CO2 emissions from road traffic in the Netherlands dropped by 1.6 percent in 2025, marking the first decline since the pandemic years. While heavy transport remains a challenge, increased electrification of passenger cars, buses, and delivery vans is contributing to a gradual reduction in overall emissions.
CO2 emissions from road traffic in the Netherlands have declined by 1.6 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year. This marks the first decrease since the pandemic, during which travel restrictions caused a temporary drop in emissions. Despite this recent improvement, total annual road traffic emissions remain at 26.6 million tons, accounting for approximately 17 percent of the country's total output. The long-term progress has been hampered by a rise in heavy transport, as trucks and delivery vans have increased their travel distance by 15 percent since 2015.
Conversely, passenger cars have reduced their combined emissions by over 9 percent over the last decade, with buses and mopeds showing even sharper declines due to electrification. Currently, 8 percent of the Dutch passenger fleet is fully electric, a figure bolstered by strong new sales. Additionally, the adoption of zero-emission zones in urban centers is driving a rapid transition toward electric delivery vehicles, with 80 percent of new light commercial vehicle sales now being electric.
Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
