UK's is set to achieve emissions reduction of around 23% below 1990 levels by 2010

On 3 February 2009, DECC published the final figures for UK’s greenhouse gas emissions for 2007.  The key results were:

• UK emissions of the basket of six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol were estimated to be 636.6 million tonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent.  This was 1.7% lower than the 2006 figure of 647.9 Mt.
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) accounted for about 85% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2007.  UK net emissions of CO2 were estimated to be 542.6 Mt. This was around 1.5% lower than the 2006 figure of 551.1 Mt.
• There were decreases in emissions of 1.8% (4.0Mt) from the energy supply sector, 4.6% (3.8 Mt) from the residential sector, and 2.6% (2.4 Mt) from the business sector.  
• There were, however, increases in emissions from some other sectors, including 1.0% (1.3 Mt) from the transport sector and 9.5% (1.2 Mt) from industrial processes.  These sectors define the source of emissions, as opposed to where the end-use occurred.

On 8 June the UK confirmed that its current emission levels mean it is set to achieve reductions of around 23% below 1990 levels by 2010, almost double the UK’s obligation under the Kyoto Protocol.

Full details of UK emissions and other statistics on climate change are available on the Defra e-Digest of Statistics about Climate Change.