In a statement, ZERO states that the “58 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent” emitted in 2020 represents a reduction of about 10% (9.5%) compared to 2019, from 32.9% compared to 2005, and 1.6% compared to 1990, defined as the base year of the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

ZERO also highlights the “very positive” variation in sectoral terms, with agriculture being the exception, the only sector with an increase in emissions in 2020 compared to 2019.

“The forest sector has shown great variability in Portugal. Forests usually act as a sink, removing carbon from the atmosphere as happened in 2020, with a value of almost 7 million tons of CO2 and, in contrast to 2017, where fires led the forest to act substantially as a net emitter. We are, however, still far from the goal of carbon sequestration between 11 and 13 million tons per year to be achieved in a climate neutral scenario”, reads the statement.

For ZERO, “it is evident that this huge reduction in emission levels was a reflection of the significant decrease in activity induced by prevention and emergency measures within the scope of the national response to the pandemic”.

“However, the downward trend since 2017, including the withdrawal of production from heavily polluting coal-fired power plants that began to take place in 2020 and investments in renewables can ensure a downward trend over the next few years”.