Carbon dioxide emissions in the UK 1990-2020

Carbon dioxide emissions in the United Kingdom fell 10 percent in 2020 to 321.1 million metric tons (MtCO2). This considerable reduction was mainly caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 and its impacts on polluting sectors such as transportation. UK CO2 emissions have fallen by more than 40 percent since 1990.

Why are emissions in the UK falling?

One of the main reasons why UK CO2 emissions are falling is the country's coal phase-out. This has seen a dramatic reduction in emissions from coal-fired electricity production. Additionally, the share of electricity generation in the UK from low-carbon sources has been increasing in recent years, and now accounts for more than half of the country’s power mix.

Most polluting sector in the UK

The dramatic decline in coal use and the transition to cleaner energy sources has seen energy supply sector emissions drop considerably in the past decade. This sector has historically been the most polluting sector in the UK, but since 2016 transportation has contributed the most to UK greenhouse gas emissions.