Greenhouse gasses reduced

Defra, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has published final 2001 emission estimates for greenhouse gases and other air pollutants for the UK, as well as issuing provisional estimates by the DTI and Defra of total carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions in 2002.

Emissions of the 'basket' of six greenhouse gases, weighted by global warming potential, fell by 12.3% between the base year and 2001. (The base year is 1990 for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, and 1995 for fluorinated compounds.)

To meet its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, the UK has agreed to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% relative to the base year over the period 2008-2012.

There were slight increases in greenhouse gas emissions between 1999 and 2001. These were mainly due to increased use of coal in power stations because of higher gas prices at the end of 2000 and during 2001, and because of lower nuclear output and lower outside temperatures. However the provisional 2002 estimates show a fall in emissions.

Emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, fell by 5.3% between 1990 and 2001.

Emissions of carbon dioxide for 2002 are provisionally estimated at some 150 million tonnes (carbon equivalent), 8 to 9% lower than in 1990. Emissions decreased by about 3.5% between 2001 and 2002, reversing the increases of the previous two years. This was mainly because of reduced energy consumption per unit of economic output, warmer weather, and a decrease in use of coal relative to oil and gas. Total greenhouse gas emissions in 2002 are estimated to have been between 14% and 15% below the 1990 level, taking this provisional carbon dioxide estimate into account.

The UK aims to move beyond its Kyoto target towards its goal of reducing emissions of carbon dioxide by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010, and to put itself on a path to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050.

In terms of other emissions, there was also good news.

Total emissions of sulphur dioxide fell by 70% between 1990 and 2001, to 1.125 million tonnes. The UK is committed to further reductions to 585 thousand tonnes by 2010 under the EU National Emission Ceilings Directive.

Nitrogen dioxide emissions fell by 39% between 1990 and 2001, to 1.680 million tonnes. The UK is committed to further reductions to 1.167 million tonnes by 2010 under the same Directive.

Emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds fell by 45% between 1990 and 2001, to 1.336 million tonnes. The UK is committed to further reductions to 1.2 million tonnes by 2010.

Ammonia emissions fell by 15% between 1990 and 2001, to 290 thousand tonnes. Ammonia emissions are to be reduced to 297 thousand tonnes by 2010.