Please note that this press release was corrected 14 September 2023 at 12:30. In the original version, the error was that the aggregate emissions of the economy were incorrectly calculated. The increase in emissions in the first half of the year was therefore 7.1% and not 12% as stated in the original release.
Greenhouse air emissions from Iceland's economy were 3,219 kilotons in the first half of 2023, which is an increase of 7.1% from last year. Emissions in the first quarter were 15.1% higher than in the previous year but emissions in the second quarters were nearly identical. The largest increase in emissions were in industry, which increased by 95 kilotons in the first quarter, and aviation which increased by 105 kilotons in the same quarter.
Emissions from household vehicles are somewhat lower this year compared to last year. Fuel imports indicate that emissions were somewhat higher in the first two months of the year, while purchase of fuel were limited. Traffic counters and sales at fuel stations result in that emissions from household vehicles are 8% lower in the second quarter compared to previous year.
These numbers are part of preliminary calculations for greenhouse gas emissions from the Icelandic economy. In these accounts, emissions from different economic categories are combined. This classification is another data publication for greenhouse gas emissions that differs from Iceland's climate accounting, but that accounting is limited to what happens within Iceland's territory.
Preliminary figures are estimated based on; import and export figures, operating figures, employment registration and other statistics that are useful in evaluating the performance of companies. The activity is then put into context with the confirmed emissions of previous years in order to estimate the emissions per month and in the current year.