Greenhouse gas emissions and removals in land and forests

Serbia’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals face challenges from increased biomass use

In accordance with Serbia’s 2023–2030 low-carbon development strategy for 2050, the general objective is to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions (excluding the LULUCF sector) from the 2010 level by 13% by 2030 and by between 55% and 69% by 2050. Considering that emissions and their removals from the LULUCF sector are not included in the general objective, Serbia has set a specific goal focused on forestry: increase carbon sinks in forests by 17% by 2030 and by between 22% and 132% by 2050, compared with 2010 levels. In 2022, the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) removed from the atmosphere in the LULUCF sector was – 4 548.89 kt CO₂, which represents a decrease of 13.6% compared with 2015 and an increase of 222.2% compared with 1990. Net negative emissions are mainly the result of a positive relationship between the growth of forest biomass on the one hand and the increase in logging, deforestation and forest fires on the other. Net sinks in the forestry sector in 2015–2022 decreased due to increased consumption of solid biomass (firewood) and increased use of technical wood.