Emissions of greenhouse gases, UK, Million tonnes (carbon equivalent)
UK emissions of a 'basket' of greenhouse gases fell by nearly 14.6 per cent between the 1990 base year and 2004. However, emissions have risen by about 1 per cent since 2002, most recently because of increased oil and gas consumption.
Several gases occur naturally in the atmosphere which keep the Earth at a temperature suitable for life by trapping energy from the Sun – the 'greenhouse' effect. Emissions from human activities are increasing the concentrations of several of these gases, causing global warming and climate change.
The UK has a legally binding target under the Kyoto protocol to reduce its emissions of the basket of six major greenhouse gases to 12.5 per cent below base year levels by 2008-12 By 2004, emissions were estimated to be about 14.6 per cent below base year levels, at 179 million tonnes (carbon equivalent).
There is a UK domestic goal to move towards a 20 per cent reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide by 2010. The UK has also announced its intention to put itself on a path towards a reduction in CO2 emissions of 60 per cent by about 2050. CO2 emissions fell by 5.6 per cent between 1990 and 2004, to 152 million tonnes (carbon equivalent).
Emissions from power stations and other fuel processing industries can be re-allocated to the final users of delivered energy to give an 'end user' breakdown. Using this breakdown emissions from households totalled 41.2 million tonnes (carbon equivalent) in 2003. Emissions from industry were 42.8 million tonnes and emissions from transport were 43.8 million tonnes.
Emissions from both domestic and industry end users have fallen since 1970, by 24 and 48 per cent respectively between 1970 and 2003. Conversely, emissions from transport have nearly doubled over the same period.
Sources: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); National Environmental Technology Centre
Notes:
The basket comprises the six main gases with a direct greenhouse effect: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). The base year is defined as 1990 emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – about 98 per cent of the basket – and 1995 emissions of hydroflourocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.
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Emissions of carbon dioxide: by end user