Emissions up, but still below pre-covid-19 levels

UK: While UK greenhouse gas emissions on a residence basis increased in 2022, they remain below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.

According to provisional figures released by the government’s Office for National Statistics, emissions increased by 2% between 2021 and 2022, having increased 3% in 2021. 

However, UK emissions stood at 512Mt CO2e in 2022, 7% below the pre-coronavirus pandemic level of 550MtCO2e in 2019. 

The sector with the largest increase in UK emissions was transport, up 34% in 2022 compared with 2021.

Consumer expenditure remains the largest single contributor to UK emissions, at 25% of total UK GHG emissions in 2022, followed by the energy sector at 16%. 

In 2022, 190 tonnes of CO2e were emitted per million pounds of UK economic activity (gross value added) on a residence basis; this is down 67% since 1990.