Department of Energy and Climate Change

31 March 2011
DECC Press Release: 2011/033

DECC today publishes provisional 2010 estimates of UK greenhouse gas emissions, together with final estimates of 2009 UK greenhouse gas emissions by fuel type and end-user.

Commenting on today’s publication of provisional greenhouse gas emissions statistics for 2010, 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.
   

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.