Agriculture is the most important N2O emission source in 2021 contributing with 89.7 % of which N2O from soils dominates (78.1 % of total N2O). Substantial emissions come from drainage water and coastal waters where nitrogen is converted to N2O through bacterial processes. However, the nitrogen converted in these processes originates mainly from the agricultural use of manure and fertilisers.
The main reason for the decrease of N2O emission is due to the agricultural sector, which has decreased with 26.8 % since 1990 caused by legislation to improve the utilisation of nitrogen in manure. Combustion of fuels contributes 6.2 % to the total whereof the N2O emission from transport contributes with 2.3 % to the national total in 2021. Emission from industrial processes decreased significantly in 2004 due to the closure of the only nitric acid plant operating in Denmark and the emission from this emission source is therefore close to zero since then.
N2O emission, 2021
(For background data click here)
Links to detailed background data for greenhouse gas emissions can be found under "Supporting documentation".
