UK greenhouse gas emissions fell by 8.9% in 2020

According to provisional figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the United Kingdom’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fell by 8.9% to 414 MtCO_2eq in 2020, which is 49% below their 1990 level. Net emissions of CO₂, which accounted for 79% of total UK GHG emissions, decreased by 10.7% in 2020 to 326.1 MtCO₂ (46% below their 1990 level). The drop in CO₂ emissions is linked to the decrease in emissions from the transport sector (-19.6%), which was significantly impacted by lockdown measures during the year and accounted for half of the overall fall, and from the business sector (-8.7%). In addition, CO₂ emissions from the energy supply sector fell by 11.9% following lower demand during the pandemic and the continued reduction in fossil fuel use in power plants. In 2020, renewables and nuclear accounted for 56% of the power mix and coal for less than 3%.