Escalating Fossil Fuel Consumption in Estonian Transport Shown in Recent Survey
In a recent development, the Estonian Environmental Research Center has completed preliminary greenhouse gas emissions estimates for 2024. According to these estimates, road transport emissions in Estonia increased by nearly 7 percent in 2024, a concerning trend in the fight against climate change.
The preliminary data does not include figures from the land use sector, but it does highlight the significant contribution of short trips to air pollution, noise, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Over half of the trips made in Tallinn, the capital city, are under 10 kilometers, making them a substantial contributor to the overall transport emissions in Estonia.
Cris-Tiina Pärn, the coordinator of the Estonian Greenhouse Gas Inventory, stated that greenhouse gas emissions reflect changes taking place in society. Pärn, who has been in this role since 2007, suggests that less environmentally harmful modes of transport can replace short trips to mitigate the impact of climate change.
The rise in emissions from road transport is not offset by vehicles becoming more fuel-efficient. This trend is particularly noticeable in Tallinn, where the high volume of traffic contributes to the problem. The highest emissions in the transport sector primarily originate from Harju County, which has the highest traffic load.
In a positive development, emissions from production units in the emissions trading system decreased from 5.3 million tons of CO2 equivalent to 4.5 million tons in 2024. This represents a decrease of 14.5 percent year on year.
However, the overall decrease in total emissions in 2024 was less than the previous year. This is partly due to the increase in emissions from road transport and industry, sectors where emissions have been on the rise.
Pärn also noted that when fossil fuel prices are lower, their use increases and therefore the resulting emissions are higher. This was evident in 2022 when natural gas consumption in Estonia fell sharply due to rising prices, only to increase again when the average market price of natural gas dropped.
The preliminary data for 2024 was submitted to the European Commission as input for EU-wide emission target information. The final and verified greenhouse gas emission data for 2024 will be available by March 2026, providing a more comprehensive understanding of Estonia's emissions profile and its progress towards meeting its climate goals.
As the fight against climate change continues, it is clear that efforts to reduce emissions, particularly from road transport, will be crucial in Estonia's journey towards a more sustainable future.
