Commenting on March 31 publication of provisional greenhouse gas emissions statistics for 2010 by Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), U.K., Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said, “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.”
Greenhouse Gas Emissions – 2010 Headline Results
- 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, there were increases in CO2 emissions from most of the main sectors. The provisional estimates show increases in emissions of 13.4 per cent (10.1 Mt) from the residential sector, 3.3 per cent (6.0 Mt) from the energy supply sector, and 2.4 per cent (1.8 Mt) from the business sector. Emissions from the transport sector were relatively stable, down by just 0.1 per cent (0.2 Mt). All these sectoral breakdowns are based on the source of the emissions, as opposed to where the end-user activity occurred. Emissions related to electricity generation are, therefore, attributed to power stations, the source of these emissions, rather than homes and businesses where electricity is used.
- 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.
These results are shown in Table 1 and Figure 1 below.
Table 1: Emissions of Greenhouse Gases
(p) 2010 estimates are provisional
Greenhouse gas emissions are in million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent. Carbon dioxide emissions are in million tonnes.
CO2 emissions figures are for the UK and Crown Dependencies; Greenhouse gas emissions figures also include some Overseas Territories.
Carbon dioxide emissions are reported as net emissions, to include removals from the atmosphere by carbon sinks.
Figure 1: Emissions of Greenhouse Gases, 1990-2010 (Provisional) Coverage
The full statistical release provides a summary report based on 2010 provisional results for UK greenhouse gas emissions and emissions by end-user sector for 2009.
Check the following link for the Full Statistical Release:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Statistics/climate_change/1515-statrelease-ghg-emissions-31032011.pdf
Source: DECC Press Release dated March 31, 2011.
