Another No.1 for Brexit Britain – They just keep on coming

The UK is the first G20 economy to halve emissions, latest data shows

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2024

New official statistics confirm the UK has cut emissions by 50% between 1990 and 2022

The UK is the first major G20 economy to halve its greenhouse gas emissions – having cut them by 50% between 1990 and 2022, while also growing its economy by 79% - new official statistics released on Tuesday confirm. This compares to a 23% reduction in France and no change in the USA between 1990 and 2021.

With renewables now accounting for more than 40% of the country’s electricity – up from just 7% in 2010, this shows the UK is leading the way on cleaner energy.

These reductions are largely due to cutting emissions from energy generation, through the shift away from using coal to using renewables. In 2012, coal provided almost 40% of UK electricity, but later this year (2024) this is predicted to fall to zero. Meanwhile Germany – the EU’s No.1 economy – has shut down all its nuclear power plants and has been increasing its use of coal-fired power stations.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

UK greenhouse gas emissions

In million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), 1990-2022
As reported to the IPCC

  • 1990 : 812.4 million tonnes
  • 2022 : 406.2 million tonnes
  • Reduction : 50.0%

[Source : Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 06 February 2024.]

© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2024 - click to enlarge

The UK has cut emissions faster than any other G7 country over the last decade

Not only has the UK cut emissions faster than any other major economy since 1990, but it also has some of the most ambitious legally-binding targets. The Sunak government says it plans to cut emissions by 68% by 2030, which is more than the EU, Japan or the United States.

Tuesday’s statistics also confirmed the UK has over-achieved on its third carbon budget – making this the third carbon budget target in a row for which the UK has over-achieved, as it did for the first and second carbon budgets.

Commenting, Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:

“The UK is the first major economy - of the top 20 countries - to halve its emissions. This is an enormous achievement by itself but also because we have done this in a pragmatic way - growing our economy by 80% at the same time and protecting family finances.

“We have also increased our renewables electricity generation from just 7% in 2010 to nearly 50% now.

“With some of the most ambitious targets in the world, we should be proud that we’ve over-achieved on our carbon budget for the third time in a row. We will continue to meet out targets but in a pragmatic way that doesn’t clobber extra costs onto hard working families.”

Tuesday’s publication from the ‘Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’ covers greenhouse gas emission statistics up to 2022, and shows they were 50% lower in 2022 than in 1990.

2022 saw an overall fall in greenhouse gas emissions in the UK – with a decrease of 3.5% from 2021, and 9.3% lower when compared to 2019, the most recent pre-pandemic year.

Observations

Our report above shows that whatever people feel about the race to Net Zero - and the Facts4EU team are not big fans - Brexit Britain is at the top of the G20 when it comes to achievement.

After this big win, we suggest the Government now takes its foot off the gas (so to speak) and lets other countries catch up with the newly independent United Kingdom.

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[ Sources: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Fri 09 Feb 2024

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