The amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the UK is on the increase, according to official data released today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
In 2010, UK emissions of the basket of six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol were provisionally estimated to be 582.4 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent. This was 2.8 per cent higher than the 2009 figure of 566.3 million tonnes.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main greenhouse gas, accounting for about 84 per cent of total UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2009, the latest year for which final results are available.
In 2010, UK net emissions of carbon dioxide were provisionally estimated to be 491.7 million tonnes (Mt). This was 3.8 per cent higher than the 2009 figure of 473.7 Mt.
Between 2009 and 2010, provisional estimates indicate that CO2 emissions from the energy supply sector increased by 3 per cent (6 Mt), emissions from transport were stable, residential emissions increased by 13 per cent (10 Mt) and business emissions increased by 2 per cent (2 Mt). All these sectoral breakdowns are based on the source of the emissions, as opposed to where the end-user activity occurred, meaning that the emissions are a result of fossil fuel consumption in the sector in question.
Since 1990, emissions from energy supply have reduced by 21 per cent and business emissions have reduced by 29 per cent, although emissions from transport have increased slightly, by 1 per cent. Emissions from the transport sector showed a general increase throughout the period up to 2007.
Emissions from the residential sector have fluctuated over this period, but in 2010 were 8 per cent higher than in 1990. Within the energy supply sector, the most significant contribution to the decrease in emissions has come from power stations, emissions from which fell by 23 per cent (47 Mt) between 1990 and 2010.
The fall in UK emissions since 1990 has been accompanied by a small increase in overall energy consumption over the period, of around 2 per cent. On a temperature corrected basis however, energy consumption has fallen by around 5 per cent between 1990 and 2010. A number of factors explain this effect, such as changes in the efficiency in electricity generation and switching from coal to less carbon intensive fuels such as gas.
According to DECC, the increase in CO2 emissions between 2009 and 2010 resulted primarily from a rise in residential gas use, combined with fuel switching away from nuclear power to coal and gas for electricity generation.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said following the release of the figures: “Britain’s blighted by inefficient and draughty homes which is why we want to help people waste less energy through the Green Deal and install new cleaner technologies to heat their homes.
“As we come out of recession the Coalition’s determined to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. That’s why we are pushing on all fronts to turn around Britain’s woeful record on renewables.”
The basket of greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol consists of six gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride. In accordance with international reporting and carbon trading protocols, each of these gases is weighted by its global warming potential (GWP), so that total greenhouse gas emissions can be reported on a consistent basis.
The GWP for each gas is defined as its warming influence relative to that of carbon dioxide. Greenhouse gas emissions are then presented in carbon dioxide equivalent units.
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