2 April 2024 – The Energy Security Deparment (DESNZ) has released provisional 2023 figures for the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. The good news is that they have fallen in comparison to 2022.
In order for the world to keep global temperatures below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, we have to stop emitting any more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Going over this threshold could lead to a climate catastrophe with extreme weather events becoming the norm.
So all countries have to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and eventually become net-zero. The UK is legally obliged to reach net-zero by 2050, and the new figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) seem to indicate that the UK is moving in the right direction.
According to the latest figures, the UK greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 5.4% in 2023, compared with the year before. Let’s dig deeper to find out what these figures mean for the UK and the environment.
UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions Down By 53% Since 1990
The data measured by the DESNZ covers all activities that produce greenhouse gases and take place within the borders of the UK. The latest report showed that in 2023, the UK produced 384.2 million tonnes of emissions, which is 5.4% lower than the previous year.
Not only is this a reduction compared to 2022, but also compared to 2020, when the UK produced 406 million tonnes of emissions. Due to the pandemic and lockdown restrictions, this year has seen a large decrease, with people being asked to stay at home.
The further reduction in emissions in 2023 means that the UK managed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 53% compared to the peak in 1990.
Responsible for this big drop is the mostly electricity supply, which reduced its emissions by 20% compared to 2022 and 78% compared to 1990. This is largely due to a move away from producing electricity from coal and towards using gas and renewables.
According to the DESNZ’s Energy Trends, the share of electricity production from renewable technologies reached a record high as it increased to 47.3% in 2023. The share of wind power has also reached the record high of 28.7%, which is 2.7% higher than in 2010.
All this sounds really positive, however, if we look at the reasons for the fall in emissions, the picture doesn’t look so rosy any more.
High Energy Costs And Imports Main Driver For Reduction In Emissions
While the shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewables for electricity production is one reason for the decline in emissions, it’s not all. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has admitted that the drop is also mainly due to two factors: higher energy costs reduced demand and the UK imported more electricity than the previous year.
In 2023, the cost of living crisis meant that people faced higher bills, including for heating and electricity. As a result, many people cut down on their use of electricity and heating in an effort to bring down their outgoings.
While a reduction in demand is positive, it’s unlikely to last. When prices fall again, people will be less careful about their consumption. So this reduction in emissions could be short-lived.
The second factor at play with the decrease in emissions is the increase in electricity imports. The figures quoted by the DESNZ only cover the emissions produced within the UK borders. So if we import more electricity from abroad, the emissions will go down.
In 2022, France struggled with gas shortages due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As a result, the UK exported more electricity and imported less. This drove up the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2023, the UK went back to its normal import levels, which meant emissions fell accordingly. This explains the 20% drop in emissions from electricity supply.
Our Opinion
While it’s good news that the UK’s emissions have fallen, if we look at the reasons, we have to ask how sustainable this decrease is. If people use less energy due to high prices, it’s unlikely to last, unless prices remain high.
It would be much better to ensure that people need less energy, so that we can lower demand long-term. One way to do this is by ensuring that our houses are as energy efficient as possible. This means insulating our homes.
For newer homes with cavity walls, this isn’t difficult or too expensive. But if you live in an older property with solid walls, insulation can become really costly. And there are around 7.9 million houses with solid walls in the UK, with only a fraction of them having solid wall insulation, according to government research.
There needs to be support for those homeowners, so they can bring down their energy costs for good.
What about importing electricity? If we don’t produce the electricity, there aren’t any generation emissions. But we still use it, which means we are still contributing to the emissions. They are just not included in those figures.
And we won’t know how this imported electricity has been produced. The best way to keep emissions from electricity production down is by producing it in the UK using renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar. Unfortunately, our current government is focussing on maxing out oil and gas, rather than renewables.
But with a general election looming, this might change. Let’s hope so.
