UK CO2 emissions

The UK has an obligation to meet its Kyoto reduction of greenhouse gases. This is to reduce by 12.5% compared to a 1990 baseline level, to be achieved by 2010. In addition the UK has set itself a more ambitious target, which is to achieve a cut of 20% by 2012. Reducing CO2 is the most difficult part of this strategy for greenhouse gas reduction

The UK emission figures for carbon dioxide increased between 2002 and 2003 according to DEFRA. The increase, was 2.2 per cent as against the provisional figures released in 2004 which suggested a 1.5 per cent increase. The increase in 2003 is largely due to the greater use of coal for electricity generation, and a decrease in net imports of electricity from the continent. Provisional estimates for 2004 will be released in April 2005. Carbon dioxide emissions are estimated in 2005 to have been 5.6 per cent lower in 2003 than in 1990. There have been reductions in emissions from the energy sector and across industry, and increases from residential fossil fuel use and transport. Emissions of all greenhouse gases per unit of GDP have fallen by 3.58 per cent per year since 1997; faster than the 3.12 per cent per year achieved in 1990-1997. Expectations on long term fuel price relativities and the increased impact of measures in the climate change programme mean that CO2 emissions should eventually to return to their downward path. Despite the rise in emissions during 2003, longer term the UK is still on course to meet its contribution to the environmental targets set at Kyoto of a 12.5 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2008-12 compared to a 1990 baseline. In 2003 greenhouse gas emissions were about 13.4 per cent below the 1990 baseline.