"These figures confirm that we are on track to meet and exceed our Kyoto target. Based on these figures, our greenhouse gas emissions are 15.3 per cent below 1990 levels – 18.8 per cent when the effect of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme is taken into account. That's already better than our Kyoto commitment of 12.5 per cent"
David Miliband
The UK remains on a course to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to almost double its Kyoto target, figures published by Defra yesterday show.
The figures represent the most recent update of the UK's greenhouse gas inventory. This is provided as a legal reporting requirement to the EU and to the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
It is the basis on which compliance with the Kyoto Protocol commitment to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent below 1990 base year level between 2008-12 will be assessed.
Environment Secretary, David Miliband said the final figures for 2005, released yesterday, showed that the UK remained on track to go well beyond its Kyoto commitment, and showed an encouraging fall in household emissions.
“These figures confirm that we are on track to meet and exceed our Kyoto target. Based on these figures, our greenhouse gas emissions are 15.3 per cent below 1990 levels – 18.8 per cent when the effect of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme is taken into account. That's already better than our Kyoto commitment of 12.5 per cent,” he said.
The Department considers that with emissions trading, the UK will almost double its Kyoto target, with an estimated 23.6% reduction in greenhouse gases on 1990 levels by 2010.
David Miliband, Secretary of State for the Environment
However, although the greenhouse gas figures continued the downward trend, the 2010 domestic goal, to cut CO2 emissions by 20 per cent on 1990 levels, looked increasingly difficult to achieve.
Mr Miliband said that the 2010 goal was always designed to be stretching. The UK is making definite progress towards it, and the projected 16.2% reduction demonstrates that progress.
Mr Miliband commented:
“However, the CO2 emission figures make it very clear that we need to do much more to cut emissions, and this is why the Climate Change Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech, will be essential to those efforts: providing a long-term framework with the necessary measures to reduce our emissions, including putting into statute our long-term goal to achieve a 60 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050.”
The decrease in CO2 emissions between 2004 and 2005 was due mainly to a reduction in emissions from the domestic sector, down by 4.6 per cent. While it would take several years to confirm whether there was a permanent downward trend in household CO2 emissions, it is a hopeful sign. While 2005 was on the whole a warm year, which would have reduced emissions to some extent, the effect is not big enough to have accounted for the full decrease in household emissions.
Mr Miliband considers that individuals can make a real difference in the fight against climate change, as the figures demonstrate. Government has introduced "significant policies" to help cut household CO2 emissions.
Statistics summary
Table of Emissions statistics for 1990, 2005 and projections for 2010.
EU ETS
The inventory figure for 2005 carbon dioxide emissions does not take into account the effect of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which was in its first year in 2005.
Under the EU ETS, UK companies are able to buy emissions allowances from other EU countries to be taken into accounting when determining whether the Kyoto target and 2010 domestic goal have been met.
The number of allowances issued to UK installations covered by the scheme was 27 million less than their emissions in 2005. The Electricity Supply Industry emitted 36.5 million tonnes more than its allocation; other sectors emitted 9.5 million tonnes less.
However, adjusted for emission trading, UK CO2 emissions in 2005 were about 527 million tonnes, approximately 11 per cent lower than 1990 levels.
Mr Miliband continued:
“The effect of the very first year of the EU ETS is notable. Emissions trading is the most important and effective way of pricing carbon in the economy, which ensures that industry takes full account of the cost of carbon dioxide, and provides a financial incentive for industry to reduce emissions. Carbon trading will increasingly become a key tool in the international community's response to climate change and is already a vital part of the UK's policy response.
Aviation emissions
Emissions from aviation continued to increase. Between 2004 and 2005, CO2 emissions from domestic aviation increased by 7.1 per cent, while international aviation emissions increased by 5.7 per cent, due to an increased number of flights. Between 1990 and 2005, emissions from aviation fuel use more than doubled.
Under the guidelines agreed for UNFCCC, emissions from international aviation and shipping are not included in the UK's emissions.
“The continued increase in emissions from aviation fuel – doubling over fifteen years – is the strongest evidence yet that aviation needs to be brought into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme as quickly as possible,” Mr Miliband said.