Greenhouse gas emissions in the UK 1990-2022
Greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom were equivalent to 406.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO₂e) in 2022. This was a decrease of 3.5 percent from 2021, and 50 percent when compared to 1990 levels.
Why are emissions falling in the UK?
One of the biggest contributing factors for declining UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions has been the phasing out of coal use - the most polluting fossil fuel - and the shift toward cleaner energy sources. This transition has seen UK electricity supply emissions fall by more than 70 percent over the past three decades.
Sources of emissions in the UK
The most polluting sector in the UK is the transportation sector, which accounts for more than a quarter of total greenhouse gas emissions. The millions of passenger cars on the road are the primary source of UK transport emissions, followed by commercial goods vehicles.