CO2 emissions in UK drop by 2 per cent
Published Thursday, 17th September 2009
Carbon emissions are falling across most parts of the UK, with the country so far having reduced overall emissions by 21 per cent compared to 1990 levels, according to new statistics published today.
Among the new figures reported:
- Overall UK emissions dropped 2 per cent between 2005 and 2007;
- Emissions have fallen in 335 out of the nation’s 434 local authorities;
- The North East had the highest emissions per person, at 12.5 million tonnes in 2007. However, the region also had the largest reduction between 2005 and 2007;
- Greater London has the least CO2 emissions per person, at 6 million tonnes in 2007;
The UK has committed to reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by at least 34 per cent by 2020, compared to 1990 levels.
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One of the reasons for the reduction in emissions is the international carbon accounting procedures, which don’t measure the emissions from international aviation, shipping and imported goods.
This means that the UK footprint quoted above, although accurate according to the current standards, excludes the emissions we’re responsible for due to our increasing consumption.
This discrepancy between reported emissions and emissions for which we’re actually responsible means that developing countries that are producing the goods we consume are getting the ‘blame’ for our emissions. It also disincentivises the UK to do anything about those three areas – hence the blinkered pursuit of additional runway capacity and the government encouragement to keep consuming despite the environmental cost.