British CO₂ emissions dipped by 2.4% in 2018 as coal use declined

According to preliminary statistics released by the British Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United Kingdom declined by 2.5% in 2018, reaching 449 MtCO₂eq, i.e. 44% below their 1990 level.



CO₂ emissions contracted by 2.4% to 364 Mt (39% of their 1990 level), thanks to a 7.2% decrease in emissions from the energy sector (including power plants), as the fuel mix for power generation changed, away from coal and towards renewables and gas. CO₂ emissions from the energy sector have more than halved (-59%) since 1990. Emissions from the power plants fell by 9.9% to 65.2 Mt, i.e. 68% below their 1990 level: coal accounted for only 7% of the fuel used for power generation -from 65% in 1990- while nuclear and renewables accounted for 47% of the power mix in 2018 (from 22% in 1990).



CO₂ emissions from the transport sector also contracted by 2.6% in 2018, as a result of traffic volumes or improvements in fuel efficiency. These improvements were partially offset by higher CO₂ emissions from the residential sector (+2.8%) and from the public sector (+4.5%), as the colder weather in the first quarter of 2018 raised heating demand. Emissions from the business sector remained stable (-0.3%). Overall, in 2018, 1/3 of CO₂ emissions came from the transport sector, 27% from the energy sector, 18% from businesses and 18% from households.