Spotlight
UK environmental taxes: 2023
What's in the bulletin?
- Environmental taxes, using an internationally agreed definition, raised £52.5 billion in the UK in 2023, up 4.9% from £50.1 billion in 2022.
- Environmental taxes, using an internationally agreed definition, raised £52.5 billion in the UK in 2023, up 4.9% from £50.1 billion in 2022.
- Fuel Duty accounted for 63.2% of UK energy taxes in 2023, while the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and Renewable Energy Obligations together accounted for 33.5% of taxes in this category.
Estimates of quarterly greenhouse gas emissions (residence basis), UK: Quarter 4 (October to December) 2023
What's in the bulletin?
- UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a residence basis were estimated to be 133 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2023, which was 1.8% lower than in Quarter 4 2022.
- The UK emitted 0.18 tonnes of CO2e per million pounds of economic activity (gross value added) in Quarter 4 2023, a level similar to that seen since Quarter 2 (Apr to June) 2021 and broadly in line with our final 2021 estimates.
- All emission estimates in this bulletin and accompanying data are produced using modelling techniques, with estimates for all quarters of 2023 subject to greater uncertainty, as provisional full-year emission data for that year will not be published until autumn 2024.
UK Environmental Accounts
Measuring the contribution of the environment to the economy, impact of economic activity on the environment, and response to environmental issues.
Datasets related to Environmental accounts
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Environmental Protection Expenditure Survey estimates: by industry and activity
Estimates for the UK's environmental protection expenditure by industry and activity, 2015 to 2021.
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Environmental taxes
Data on the UK government's revenue from environmental taxes (including energy, transport and pollution or resource taxes), 1997 to 2023 (where available).
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Low carbon and renewable energy economy estimates
This release includes annual estimates of low carbon and renewable energy economy activity in the UK and constituent countries: turnover, employment, exports, imports, acquisitions, disposals and number of businesses.
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Estimates of quarterly greenhouse gas emissions
Estimates of greenhouse gas emissions using the Chow-Lin regression-based temporal disaggregation method, quarterly data. These are official statistics in development.
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Habitat condition, natural capital, UK – supplementary information
Suitable condition indicators for an understanding of the relationship between the ecosystem condition and the ecosystem services they deliver.
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Atmospheric emissions: greenhouse gases by industry and gas
The emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydro-fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride, nitrogen trifluoride and total greenhouse gas emissions, by industry (SIC 2007 group – around 130 categories), UK, 1990 to 2021 and (provisional) 2022
Publications related to Environmental accounts
Statistical bulletins
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Environmental Protection Expenditure Survey, UK: 2021
Estimates of environmental protection expenditure by UK industries, based on the Environmental Protection Expenditure Survey.
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Greenhouse gas emissions, UK: provisional estimates, 2022
Measuring the air emissions generated by UK economic activities.
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UK environmental taxes: 2023
The value and composition of UK environmental taxes from 1997 to 2023, by type of tax and economic activity, and comparisons with other European countries.
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Low carbon and renewable energy economy, UK: 2022
Estimates of the size of the UK's low carbon and renewable energy economy, including turnover and employment.
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Habitat extent and condition, natural capital, UK: 2022
The size of area and condition indicators for eight natural UK habitats, including woodland, enclosed farmland, semi-natural grasslands and coastal margins. Uses the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting framework for Ecosystem Accounting. Experimental estimates.
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Tourism and outdoor leisure accounts, natural capital, UK: 2021
In this bulletin we put into practice new methods for estimating the value of tourism and outdoor leisure in the UK.
Articles
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Developing estimates of depletion for the UK natural capital accounts
Developing methods to estimate the depletion of UK natural capital assets, with initial results for three non-renewable services. These are official statistics in development.
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Developing quarterly greenhouse gas emissions accounts, UK
Update on work to develop a measure of quarterly UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a residency basis, and future development and publication plans.
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Greenhouse gas emissions and other environment measures, UK and European countries
How the UK ranks with EU14 countries on greenhouse gas emissions, specifically CO2 and fossil fuel extraction and import, and environmental tax revenue collected in the UK compared with EU14 nations.
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Over half of younger drivers likely to switch to electric in next decade
With the sale of vehicles reliant on fossil fuels set to end by 2030, what barriers exist for drivers to make the switch, and is the necessary infrastructure in place?
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Carbon dioxide emissions and woodland coverage where you live
The levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and woodland coverage vary across the UK. Our interactive maps let you see how your area looks, and how it compares with other areas.
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COVID-19 restrictions cut household emissions
With more people staying at home last year, household greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 10%. Could the shift to home working see lower emissions in the longer term?
Methodology related to Environmental accounts
- Environmental accounts on environmental taxes QMI
- Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE) Survey QMI
- Habitat extent and condition methodology, natural capital, UK: 2022
- UK natural capital accounts: Tourism and recreation method changes
- Natural Capital
- Principles of Natural Capital Accounting
- UK natural capital accounts: Tourism - methodology
- The challenges of defining a "green job"
Find, compare and visualise statistics about places within the United Kingdom.