UK greenhouse gas emissions down again

Total greenhouse gas emissions have been provisionally estimated at 520.1 million
tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) for the twelve months leading to Q2 2015, a
decrease of 17.6 MtCO2e (3.3 percent) compared to the same period in 2014, when
emissions were estimated to be 537.7 MtCO2e.

Andy Dewis, director – sustainability and solutions, Schneider Electric comments: “While today’s results will support the UK’s position around carbon policy in Paris, we are yet to see if it’s a true impact or a positive blip. Ultimately the government has to navigate an effective path between rising policy costs and decarbonisation targets.

“This downward turn in the numbers is a positive result for the UK, especially in the run up to the Paris climate change summit in November. This is in no small part due to the influence of renewable generation of energy – which, at around 20 per cent, underpins this encouraging trend, resulting in a 0.6 per cent decrease in emissions. The past two winters have also been relatively mild – 0.4 degrees Celsius above the average – resulting in lower energy usage and helping to keep emissions down.

“What’s important now is that we maintain these numbers. The government’s recent move to curb offshore wind farms, such as Navitus Bay, and reductions in feed-in tariffs (FITTs) which reward those who generate their own power through renewable sources, is casting doubt that we can sustain these figures.”