Greenhouse gas emissions in the UK 1990-2023

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United Kingdom were equivalent were estimated to have dropped 5.4 percent in 2023, to 384.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO₂e) in 2023. This represents a 53 percent emissions reduction when compared to 1990 levels. 

Why are emissions falling in the UK?

One of the biggest contributing factors for declining UK territorial GHG emissions has been the phasing out of coal use and the shift toward cleaner energy sources. This transition has seen UK electricity supply emissions fall by more than 70 percent since 1990. 

Sources of emissions in the UK

The most polluting sector in the UK is the transportation sector, which accounts for more than a quarter of the country's GHG emissions. The millions of passenger cars on the road are the primary source of UK transport emissions, followed by commercial goods vehicles.