Figures from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy show that the UK’s emissions again fell in 2017 and ended 2.7 per cent lower than in the previous year. Whilst globally the level of greenhouse gases has risen, the UK target of cutting CO2 emissions 80 per cent by 2050 means that the country is on track to meet the goals.

Emissions now stand at 42 per cent lower than in 1990, in part due to reducing dependency on coal to produce energy. However achieving a zero-emissions position is still unplanned for, and as the UK produces only around one per cent of global emission from fossil fuels, it will still leave much for the global governments to find consensus on.

In 2017, UK emissions of the basket of seven greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol were estimated to be 460.2 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), a decrease of 2.7 per cent compared to the 2016 figure of 473.1 million tonnes.

The decrease in emissions from 2016 was mainly caused by: Reductions in emissions in the energy supply sector, down 7.6 per cent (9.2 MtCO2e). A decrease of 4.2 per cent (2.9 MtCO2e) in the residential sector, driven by a reduction in the use of natural gas for heating due to warmer weather in the first half of 2017.

Despite the results of offshoring some industry/energy and emissions, the results are positive, and the growth in renewables – particularly in wind power – have helped reduce levels and build technical knowledge, even as the Government steps back renewables subsidies. The economic case for renewables is such now that the Swansea Tidal Lagoon project is being seriously considered as a fully commercial enterprise.

Whilst renewable power grows and emissions decline it is still good to know that some things don’t change with politicians bickering.

Claire Perry, the Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy heralding the results: “New statistics show we’ve cut greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent since 1990 by scaling up low-carbon sources to produce record levels of electricity.”

Caroline Lucas of the Green Party, however, said: “Shocking that greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture & waste increased in 2017. The Government must urgently stop funding fossil fuels and building new roads and runways.”

I guess you pays your money and you takes your choice!

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