UK to meet green targets despite emission rise, says Minister

The UK’s newly appointed Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Edward Davey, claims that the nation is on course to meet its long term emission targets, despite a rise in the emission of greenhouse gas in the UK during 2010.

According to statistics published today in the UK’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Final Figures, greenhouse gas emissions increased by 3.1 percent over levels recorded in 2009.

“Emissions were up in 2010 because of the exceptionally cold weather and greater use of fossil fuels,” said Davey in response to the increase. “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,” he added.

In 2010, UK emissions of the basket of six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride, were estimated to be 590.4 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). Figures recorded in 2009 showed that the UK emitted 572.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gases.

Between 2009 and 2010 the largest increases were experienced in the residential sector, up 15.1 per cent (11.8 MtCO2e), and the energy supply sector, up by 2.8 per cent (5.6 MtCO2e). Emissions from all other sectors were relatively stable, compared to 2009 levels, according to the statistics.

Carbon dioxide (CO2), the main greenhouse gas, accounted for about 84 percent of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2010. The UK’s net emissions of carbon dioxide for the year were estimated to be 495.8 million tonnes (Mt), representing a rise of around 3.8 percent higher than the 2009 figure of 477.8 Mt. Notable increases in emissions were also evident from the residential sector, up by 15.8 per cent (11.8 Mt), and from the energy supply sector, up 3.1 per cent (5.8 Mt). However, emissions from all other sectors were relatively unchanged from 2009.

According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the overall increase in emissions has primarily resulted from a rise in residential gas use, combined with fuel switching away from nuclear power to coal and gas for electricity generation. In 2010, these factors mainly affected emissions of carbon dioxide, rather than other gases, and since CO2 makes the largest contribution to the UK total, any change in CO2 emissions is likely to drive a similar change in total emissions, the DECC said.
 

Images: Climate Action Stock Photos