Prepared by Climate Trace, an organization founded by former Vice President of the United States Al Gore, the list is part of the latest global analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and was released this Friday in Baku, Azerbaijan, within the scope of COP19, the UN climate summit.
Portugal’s 71st place represents an increase of one position compared to last year, in line with what happened in the last decade, in which it fluctuated between places 71 and 72.
GHG emissions in the world exceed 61 billion metric tons, with China in first place but far ahead, with 17 billion, followed by the United States, with more than 6 billion, and then India with almost 4 billion.
Portugal’s 86 million tons calculated by Climate Trace (national accounts indicate less) place the country better positioned than Sweden or Greece, but worse classified than, for example, Hungary, Denmark, Switzerland or Iceland, which has only 9 million tons.
By districts, those that emitted the most GHG this year are Lisbon and Portoalmost 12 million tons in the capital and nine in Porto, with the remainder varying significantly between six and two, such as Beja. Setúbal stands out, with 9.7 million tons of CO2, especially due to the Sines refinery.
On the map of mainland Portugal The major emissions zones are all close to the sea but two stand out, the Galp refinery in Sines and the Humberto Delgado airport in Lisbon.
According to the data, Portela airport emitted 3.35 million tons of CO2 last year and this year it is already at 3.48 million tons.
The international airport is the most polluting structure in the country and emissions continue to rise. According to the page 1.45 million tons in 2021, 2.86 million in 2022 (when it surpassed Galp) and 3.35 last year and 3.48 this year.
On the contrary, the Galp refinery in Sines recorded a decline in the last two years. In 2021 it emitted 2.25 million tons, the following year it rose to 2.40 and in 2023 and 2024 it only reached 2.19.
The Port of Sines appears in third place as the sector that emits the most CO2, 1.19 million tons this year and on an upward trend since 2021.
In fourth place, with 964 thousand tons of CO2 comes Carnes Landeiro, in Barcelos, and then with 947 thousand the Ribatejo Thermoelectric Power Plant, in Carregado. Cimpor’s cement factory in Souselas, near Coimbra, with almost 893 thousand tons this year, is in sixth place.
