Greenhouse gas inventory 2022: no significant changes in the final results for the agriculture and LULUCF sectors compared to the preliminary data published in December 2023

Greenhouse gas inventory data are published in three stages: approximated data in May, preliminary data in December and final results in March. After the December 2023 preliminary data, the inventory input data have been updated and the 2022 results revised. The final results now published show slightly lower net emissions from the agriculture and land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sectors than in December.

Total emissions from the agriculture sector in 2022 were 6.07 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (Mt CO₂-eq) (Figure 1), 0.13 Mt lower than in the preliminary data and 2% lower than in 2021. Nitrous oxide emissions from soil and methane and nitrous oxide emissions from livestock enteric fermentation and manure management account for 96% of the sector's emissions (Figure 2). The remaining 4% is due to carbon dioxide released from liming and urea fertilisation. 

According to the final results, the LULUCF sector was a source of 4.44 Mt CO₂-eq in 2022 (Figure 3). Compared to the December preliminary results, the updated fertiliser data decreased the emissions by 0.02 Mt CO₂-eq, but the emissions were still 1 Mt CO₂-eq higher than in 2021. The total net sink of forests and wood products was -8.0 Mt CO₂-eq_. Other land use created a total net emission of 12.5 Mt CO₂-eq_. Compared to 2021, the net sink for forests decreased by 0.2 Mt CO₂-eq (Figure 4) and emissions from agricultural land increased by 0.6 Mt CO₂-eq_.

Changes to the agricultural and LULUCF sectors since the December preliminary results:

• Quantities of fertiliser and lime for 2022 were included in the calculation. The 2022 preliminary data published in December was calculated using 2021 data, as 2022 data were not yet available. In the agricultural sector, carbon dioxide emissions from liming and urea increased by 56 kt CO₂-eq, while nitrous oxide emissions from fertilisers decreased by 214 kt CO₂-eq_. In the LULUCF sector, nitrous oxide emissions decreased by 21 kt CO₂-eq_. The high price of fertilisers probably reduced the use of fertilisers and increased the use of urea and liming.

The changes to the calculation methodology were already included in the preliminary calculation and are described in the December release.