1. Main points
UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a residence basis increased by 6% between 2020 and 2021, to over 505 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
Despite the increase, UK emissions in 2021 are below 2019 levels.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) accounts for 85% of all UK GHG emissions with methane (CH4) being the next largest contributor.
The largest decrease since 2019 is seen in the transport and storage industry.
Consumer expenditure is still the largest single contributor to UK emissions, with 27% of all UK GHG emissions in 2021.
The consumer expenditure, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, manufacturing and transport industries account for 72% of emissions in 2021.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is developing estimates of quarterly GHG emissions; a potential framework is set out in our article, Developing quarterly greenhouse gas emissions accounts, UK: May 2020, and an update is planned by the end of this year.
2. Environmental Accounts data
Atmospheric emissions: acid rain precursors by industry and gas
Dataset | Released 01 November 2022
The emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, ammonia, and total acid rain precursors, by industry (SIC 2007 group – around 130 categories), UK, 1990 to 2020 and (provisional) 2021.
Atmospheric emissions: greenhouse gas emissions intensity by industry
Dataset | Released 01 November 2022
Greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions intensity –the level of emissions per unit of economic output, by industry (SIC 2007 group – around 130 categories), UK, 1990 to 2020 and (provisional) 2021.
Atmospheric emissions: other pollutants by industry and gas
Dataset | Released 01 November 2022
The emissions of PM10, PM2.5, carbon monoxide, non-methane volatile organic compound, Benzene and 1,3-Butadiene, by industry (SIC 2007 group – around 130 categories), UK, 1990 to 2020 and (provisional) 2021.
Atmospheric emissions: greenhouse gases by industry and gas
Dataset | Released 01 November 2022
The emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydro-fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur
3. Measuring the data
All 2021 data in this release are provisional. To produce provisional 2021 air emissions data, the 2020 data on activities that could result in emissions are updated using information on production activities for 2021, where available, or using appropriate proxy information if necessary. Emission factors from 2021 that estimate the mass of emissions associated with those activities (by type of gas or pollutant) are then applied.
The UK Environmental Accounts are "satellite accounts" to the main UK National Accounts (Accounts that are linked to the economy but are not part of the core UK National Accounts). They are compiled in accordance with the System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA), as detailed on the United Nations website, which closely follows the UN System of National Accounts (SNA).
Air emissions and energy use
The air and energy accounts in the UK Environmental Accounts are compiled by Ricardo Energy and Environment on behalf of the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The main source of information for this reporting is the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI). This provides air emissions data, calculated from activity data and emission factors, for all relevant sources in the UK as a starting point for generating the air emissions accounts. The residence principle is then applied to these datasets, which assigns the emissions to an industrial classification based on Standard Industrial Classification: SIC 2007.
Quality
More quality and methodology information on strengths, limitations, appropriate uses, and how the data were created is available in our Environmental accounts on air emissions Quality and Methodology Information (QMI).
Back to table of contents5. Cite this statistical bulletin
Office for National Statistics (ONS), released 1 November 2022, ONS website, statistical bulletin, UK greenhouse gas emissions, provisional estimates: 2021