Coal Use In The UK Hit Its Lowest Level For 150 Years

Did you know?

The UK National Statistics body has confirmed in a recent report that between 1990 and 2015 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fell 38%.

With the EU-wide goal of reducing carbon pollution by 40% by 2030, this cut shows the UK to have one of the fastest rate of emissions cuts in any developed country (Following Denmark)

Figures for 2015 show a drop of 3.8% on 2014 emission levels.

The final figures for 2015 show emissions fell 3.8% on 2014 levels, meaning the country is on track to meet its commitments under its carbon budget running to 2017.

Why such a dramatic reduction?

An analysis undertaken by the Carbon Brief website shows that in 2016 coal use in the UK hit its lowest level for 150 years, with gas, renewables and nuclear power being far more commonly used.

UK electricity in 2016

·         43% gas

·         25% renewables (record high)

·         21% nuclear

·         9% coal (lowest ever)

Other areas of high emissions in the UK are

·         Energy, 29%

·         Transport, 24%

·         Business, 17%

·         Residential, 13%

·         Agriculture, 10%

The UK National Statistics illustrate how important cleaning up energy and waste emissions was to meeting its goals.

It is expected that more attention be placed on the struggling areas such as transport fleet, farming, land use and residential emissions in the much-delayed emissions reduction plan which is now expected to be released in 2017.

For a more detailed breakdown please visit : 

• https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-wind-generated-more-electricity-coal-2016

• http://www.carbonbrief.org/uk-emissions-lowest-since-the-1920s-as-renewables-overtake-coal