GHG emissions decrease by 5.4%, transport sector lags behind.

The UK has made significant progress in reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with a 5.4% decrease in 2023. However, there is cause for concern as transport emissions remain alarmingly high.

According to provisional estimates from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, total UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions stood at 384.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2023. This represents a 5.4% reduction from the previous year and a substantial 52.7% decrease since 1990. This decline can be attributed to a decrease in gas use in UK electricity generation, as well as higher energy prices leading to reduced demand for heating.

The sector that saw the largest reduction in emissions in 2023 was electricity supply, with a 20% decrease in the last year and an impressive 78% reduction since 1990. This long-term decline in emissions from electricity supply is primarily due to a shift in fuel use within power stations, moving away from coal towards gas and renewables.

While there is cause for celebration in these achievements, domestic transport emissions only decreased by 1% in 2023 and are down a modest 14% since 1990. Thom Groot, CEO of The Electric Car Scheme, is urging the government to take more decisive action to promote the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) and improve public education on emissions reduction.

Groot expressed his concerns, stating, “These statistics highlight the significant impact transport is having on the UK’s journey to net zero. To meet our goals, there must be a stronger push from government policies to increase EV adoption and reduce emissions. It is also important to address the misconceptions that exist, as less than a third of Brits are aware that transport is the primary source of emissions in the UK, with many mistakenly prioritising industrial processes, which only contribute 3% of the country’s emissions.”

He continued, “The Government is falling short of the targets it has set for itself. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has already lowered its forecast in November, and we are now lagging behind even that. As of 2024, electric car uptake is 22 percentage points below the March 2023 forecast, accounting for less than 15% of total new car sales – a far cry from the 100% target set for 2035.”