In 2008, the Hungarian parliament passed its National Climate Change Strategy 2008-2025 and a draft law is now under discussion in Parliament. These developments have enjoyed an exceptional degree of consensus, but the economic crisis and party politics dominate the political scene, and the country has a track record of arguing with Brussels over the baseline for emissions calculations.
Key facts
- Surface area (square kms): 93,028
- Population in 2009: 9,905,596
- Population density in 2007 (per square km): 109
- GDP: $553.4 billion (2008 est.):
- CO2 emission estimates: 5.7 tonnes/person/year
Energy production:
- Electricity (kW-hr; 2004): 33,708,000,000
- Hard coal (metric tons; 2004): none
- Lignite (metric tons; 2004): 11,242,000
- Crude petroleum (barrels; 2004): 7,205,000
- Petroleum products (metric tons; 2004–05): 6,540,000
- Natural gas (cu m; 2004–05): 2,935,000,000
Energy consumption:
- Electricity (kW-hr; 2004): 41,176,000,000
- Hard coal (metric tons; 2004): 1,299,000
- Lignite (metric tons; 2004): 12,173,000
- Crude petroleum (barrels; 2004): 42,635,000
- Petroleum products (metric tons; 2004–05): 5,354,000
- Natural gas (cu m; 2004–05): 15,021,000,000
A view from the ground in Hungary
Kriszti Kocsis, from the British Embassy in Budapest gives a view from the ground of the issues affecting Hungary
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