Huhne says emissions drop is 'no time for back-slapping'

In 2009, UK emissions of the so-called ’basket’ of six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol were estimated to be 566.3 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e).

This was 8.7 per cent lower than the 2008 figure of 620.5 million tonnes (Mt).

Between 2008 and 2009, there were decreases in emissions in all sectors, including 11 per cent (24.2 MtCO₂e) from the energy-supply sector; 11.8 per cent (11.5 MtCO₂e) from the business sector; 36.5 per cent (6 MtCO₂e) from industrial processes; 4.2 per cent (5.4 MtCO₂e) from the transport sector; and 5.8 per cent (4.8 MtCO₂e) in the residential sector.

Carbon dioxide accounted for approximately 84 per cent of total UK greenhouse-gas emissions in 2009. In 2009, UK net emissions of carbon dioxide were estimated to be 473.7Mt.

According to DECC, this was around 9.8 per cent lower than the 2008 figure of 525.1Mt. There were decreases in emissions of 11.5 per cent (24.1Mt) from the energy-supply sector; 13.1 per cent (11.5Mt) from the business sector; 4.2 per cent (5.2Mt) from the transport sector; and 5.9 per cent (4.7Mt) from the residential sector.