Archived press release

UK carbon dioxide emissions soared in 2003

25 March 2004

New Government figures released today [1] indicate a big increase in greenhouse gas emissions in 2003. The increase was caused by a rise in energy consumption and a return to coal burning.

Friends of the Earth has calculated that compared to 2002, emissions of carbon dioxide from energy rose by approximately 3 per cent in 2003, (1.5% higher than 2002). This is huge increase in one year, especially as the Government has promised a 20 per cent cut in carbon dioxide levels by 2010 (based on 1990 levels). Emissions from electricity generation rose by 6 % between 2002 and 2003 as a result of using less gas and more coal during generation.

Friends of the Earth's Energy Campaigner, Bryony Worthington, said:

"These appalling figures highlight the urgent need for tougher action on climate change, the biggest environmental threat the planet faces. Government policy is obviously not working. UK emissions are rising when they should be going down.

The EU emissions trading scheme, which will start in 2005, could make a big impact and help to reverse this worrying trend, but it must be implemented correctly both in the UK and the rest of Europe. Similarly tough measures are also needed to tackle transport and other non-industry emissions. The Government must not wait until its climate review next year. It must put our climate strategy back on track now."

Government figures show that 2 million tones of carbon [2] (MtC) more were emitted from burning fossil fuels last year than in 2002 [3]. To put this in context, the renewables obligation, which will deliver 10 per cent of UK electricity from renewable sources by 2010, is predicted to save only 2.5 MtC per annum. The UK Government's entire climate change programme, published in 2000, is intended to deliver a reduction of 18 MtC. This would equal a 19% cut in 1990 carbon dioxide emission levels by 2010 [3].

The reasons for the increase are a two per cent rise in total demand for energy compared to the previous year and a switching from gas to coal, which produces between two and three times more carbon dioxide.

Friends of the Earth is campaigning for the phase-out of the carbon economy and a massive increase in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Last year the organisation launched its `carbon dinosaurs' campaign which called for Britain's inefficient coal-fired power stations to be phased out.

Notes

[1] DTI has published annual figures for total inland energy consumption broken down by primary fuels. Their summary for 2003 states:

Total inland consumption of primary fuels, which includes deliveries into consumption, was 233.1 million tonnes of oil equivalent in 2003, 2.0 per cent higher than in 2002.

On a temperature corrected basis, total inland consumption of primary fuels was 1.3 per cent higher in 2003 than in 2002.

For 2003 temperature corrected figures, compared to 2002 show that

• consumption of oil rose by 3.0 per cent;
• consumption of coal and other solid fuels rose by 6.2 per cent;
• consumption of natural gas fell by 1.3 per cent.

[2] Friends of the Earth calculated that approx 4.5 million tones of carbon (MtC) more were emitted from burning fossil fuels last year than in 2002. (Press release 26.2.04)

[3] We converted volumes of primary energy consumed in millions of tonnes oil equivalent (Mtoe) to millions tonnes of carbon emissions (MtC) using conversion values published in the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

[4] Estimated annual savings in 2010 from renewables obligation is 2.5 MtC. Source: UK Climate Change Programme, DETR Nov 2000.

35% of our electricity is still produced from coal burnt in old inefficient power stations which make a massive contribution to climate change. Help shut these dinosaurs down by visiting:
www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/press_for_change/carbon_dinosaurs

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust