The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions reduced by nearly 2 per cent during 2008, compared with 2007, the latest statistics from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show.
Publishing its final estimates for 2008 today, the Department says that the drop show that the UK is ‘on target’ to meet it’s our Kyoto-set target of 12.5 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012. It total the drop of 1.9 per cent in emissions brings the UK emission-levels to 19.4 per cent below 1990 levels.
In 2008, UK emissions of the of six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride) were estimated to be 628.3 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) compared to 640.5 million tonnes in 2007. There were decreases in emissions of 2.9 per cent from the energy supply sector, 3.0 per cent from the transport sector, 2.6 per cent from the business sector, and 7.3 per cent from industrial processes. There was, however, an increase in emissions from the residential sector of 3.1 per cent.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main greenhouse gas, accounting for about 85 per cent of total UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2008. In 2008, UK net emissions of carbon dioxide were estimated to be 532.8 million tonnes (Mt). This was around 2.0 per cent lower than the 2007 figure of 543.6 (Mt). There were decreases in emissions of 2.9 per cent from the energy supply sector, 2.9 per cent from the transport sector, and 3.0 per cent from the business sector. However, there was an increase of 3.2 per cent in emissions from the residential sector.
Critics however claim that the drop in emissions has little to do with the Government’s efforts to combat climate change and is in fact caused by the recession, which hit hard through the year.
Commenting on the news, Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Joan Ruddock, said: “We are determined to strengthen and sustain the momentum behind the low-carbon transition in the UK, supporting investment in low carbon technology, creating green jobs and providing a healthier future for everyone.
“Building on the Copenhagen Accord is a priority for the government and we will increase our efforts to encourage others not only to associate with it but to accelerate its implementation.”
