The UK's emissions of greenhouse gases has increased according to the final figures released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change today.
In 2010, UK emissions of the basket of six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol were estimated to be 590.4 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) - a 3.1 per cent increase on the 2009 figure of 572.5 million tonnes.
Between 2009 and 2010 the largest increases were experienced in the residential sector, up 15.1 per cent (11.8 MtCO2e), as households turned on the heating to beat the big freeze.
And apart from the energy supply sector, up by 2.8 per cent (5.6 MtCO2e) to cope with the shutdown of some nuclear power plants, emissions from all other sectors were relatively stable, compared to 2009 levels.
Commenting on the increase in emissions in 2010, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: “Emissions were up in 2010 because of the exceptionally cold weather and greater use of fossil fuels.
"One year won’t knock the UK off meeting its long term emission reduction targets, but it serves to underline the importance of the Coalition’s policies for insulating homes to cut bills and emissions and moving to greener alternative forms of energy.”
According to today's report, carbon dioxide accounted for about 84 per cent of the UK’s man-made greenhouse gas emissions in 2010.
In 2010, 39 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions were from the energy supply sector, 22 per cent from road transport, 17 per cent from the residential sector and 15 per cent from business.
Since 2009, there has been an increase in emissions in some of the main sectors. Emissions from the residential sector have increased by 16 per cent, while emissions from the energy supply sector have increased by 3 per cent.
Emissions from industrial processes are also up slightly, by 5 per cent, although this sector is relatively small in absolute terms. Emissions from the business sector and road transport are relatively unchanged since 2009.
There are a number of reasons for the increase in CO2 emissions between 2009 and 2010. The large increase in the residential sector resulted almost entirely from an increase in the use of natural gas.
Residential emissions are heavily influenced by external temperatures, and 2010 was, on average, the coldest year since 1987. In particular, temperatures in both the first and last quarter of the year were very low; the first quarter was the coldest since 1987, and the last quarter was the coldest since at least 1970.
This caused an increase in demand for space heating in 2010, which resulted in a significant increase in emissions from domestic gas use.
The increase in emissions from power stations was mainly because of technical problems at some nuclear power stations. In 2010, due to maintenance outages, there was less nuclear power available for electricity generation, and more coal and gas were used instead.
In particular, Sizewell B, the largest nuclear power station, was offline for six months. This contributed to an increase of around 4 per cent in emissions from electricity generation between 2009 and 2010.
Since 1990, emissions from the energy supply sector have reduced by 19 per cent and business emissions have reduced by 32 per cent. However, emissions from the residential sector have increased by 10 per cent, while emissions from road transport have increased by 2 per cent over this period.
Weighted by global warming potential, methane accounted for about 7 per cent of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions in 2010.
In 2010, the main sources of methane were agriculture (44 per cent of the total) and landfill sites (36 per cent). Between 2009 and 2010 there was a small decrease (of 2 per cent) in total emissions of methane, primarily from the landfill waste sector.
Methane emissions in 2010, excluding those from natural sources, were 58 per cent below 1990 levels. Emissions from landfill have reduced by 66 per cent and emissions from agriculture by 20 per cent since 1990. Emissions from coal mines have also reduced significantly over the period, by 90 per cent.
Weighted by global warming potential, nitrous oxide emissions accounted for about 6 per cent of the UK's man-made greenhouse gas emissions in 2010.
Agriculture is the main source of these emissions, accounting for 80 per cent of the total, mainly from agricultural soils. Between 2009 and 2010, emissions from nitrous oxide remained relatively stable. There was a slight increase in industrial process emissions (of 11 per cent, but small in absolute terms), primarily due to increases in nitric acid production.
Nitrous oxide emissions fell by 48 per cent between 1990 and 2010. The largest reductions were in emissions from adipic acid production between 1998 and 1999 (down 95 per cent, 11 MtCO2e), which is reflected in the reduction in emissions from industrial processes between these years.
Emissions from international aviation and shipping can be estimated from refuelling from bunkers at UK airports and ports, whether by UK or non-UK operators. Under the reporting guidelines agreed by the UNFCCC, these emissions are not included in the UK’s emissions total, but are reported as memo items in national greenhouse gas inventories.
Parties to the UNFCCC are required to act to limit or reduce emissions from international services working through the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
In 2010, emissions from international aviation fuel use were estimated to be 31.8 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent. This was 4.4 per cent lower than the 2009 figure of 33.3 million tonnes.
Between 1990 and 2006, these emissions increased by around 130 per cent, although since 2006 they have been steadily falling. Nevertheless, in 2010 these emissions are still more than double the 1990 level. High altitude aviation also has a greenhouse effect over and above that of carbon dioxide alone, but this is not reflected in these estimates.
In 2010, emissions from UK international shipping bunkers were estimated to be 8.8 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent. This was 13.3 per cent lower than the 2009 figure of 10.1 million tonnes.
Since 1990, emissions from UK shipping bunkers have been highly variable. There was an increase of around 18 per cent between 1990 and 1998, followed by a fall of 48 per cent between 1998 and 2002.
Emissions then more than doubled between 2002 and 2008, but have since fallen by 20 per cent, and they are now at the same level as in 1990. The report notes that UK operators purchase most of their fuel outside the UK.
Post a comment