The electricity sector, which accounts for about 12% of UK emissions, saw its greenhouse gas emissions fall by 19.6% in 2023
UK households and businesses reduced their heating usage due to high energy prices, leading to a new low in Britain’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2023.
The Energy Department (DESNZ) reported that territorial emissions fell by 5.4% to 384.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent last year. This decrease was attributed to “reduced gas use in UK electricity generation and higher energy, and other prices that reduced demand for heating”.
Energy prices reached record highs for most British households in late 2022 and only began to drop again in July 2023. The electricity sector, which accounts for about 12% of UK emissions, saw its greenhouse gas emissions fall by 19.6% in 2023.
In addition to the decreased electricity demand, DESNZ noted that Britain imported more electricity from France last year due to an increase in the country’s nuclear power output. This reduced the need for domestic fossil fuel power production.
As a result, less gas was needed to meet the remaining electricity demand, with data showing that gas power generation in Britain fell by 21.1% last year. Emissions in the buildings and product uses sector also fell by 6.2%, according to DESNZ.
The department suggested that high energy prices were likely a factor in the reduced gas use for heating buildings. According to the latest figures, emissions from our factories fell by 8% mainly because we used less fuel in metal making industries like iron and steel.
Even though people are travelling less by plane, car and boat, emissions only fell by 1.4%, according to DESNZ. Greenhouse gas emissions are down by 52.7% compared to back in 1990. The government said that the UK is the first big economy to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half since 1990, reaching a 50% fall in 2022.
Carbon dioxide emissions went down 6.6% in 2023, which means there has been a 49.8% reduction since 1990. Campaigners said the Government needs to more ito ensure more homes are insulated and use heat pumps. The Government must also push ahead with the transition to renewable energy, campaigners say.
Jess Ralston, an expert in energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: “The UK’s spent over £100bn on gas since the start of the crisis, with most people really feeling the pinch in their energy bills so it’s no surprise that expensive energy has meant people use less of it.”
Doug Parr from Greenpeace UK warned: “Any fall in UK emissions is much needed, but let’s not fool ourselves that we’re on track to meet our international obligations or our legal carbon budgets by 2030. Emissions from buildings and transport remain stubbornly high and the government doesn’t have a policy in place yet to deliver the cuts needed for the planet or to uphold our international promises.”
He added: “Sunak needs to get serious about insulation, heat pumps and public transport, and must rapidly scale up the roll out of renewables and the electrification of vehicles to get us on track.”
Meanwhile, Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho celebrated: “This latest drop in our emissions follows the UK’s achievement in becoming the first major economy to halve its polluting carbon emissions. We have done all this whilst growing our economy by 80%, and shielding families from unnecessary costs.”
