The British Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has released preliminary data on the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which reached 371 MtCO2eq in 2024, marking a decrease of 4% from 2023 levels, and a 54% fall from 1990.
Electricity supply contributed to the largest reduction in 2024 (-15% in 2024, -82% over the 1990-2024 period), as higher electricity imports and increased renewable generation led to lower gas and coal use in UK power plants; the UK's last coal-fired power plant was closed in September 2024. This sector accounted for 10% of GHG emissions in 2024, far behind domestic transport (30%), buildings and product uses (21%), industry (13%) and agriculture (12%). Emissions from the transport sector declined by 2% (2 MtCO2eq), due to a reduction in road vehicle diesel use that outweighed increased road vehicle petrol use, while emissions from the buildings and product uses sector emissions increased by 2% (1 MtCO2eq), due to higher gas use likely driven by an easing of energy and other cost pressures. Emissions from the industrial sector fell by 9% owing to blast furnace closures in the iron and steel industry and lower coal use across the sector.
The information remains as provisional estimates subject to revision when final estimates are published in February 2026. The UK aims to reduce its emissions by 68% by 2030, by 81% in 2035 (to 1990 levels) and to achieve net zero emissions in 2050.