UK SPEW DROPPED 2%

UK carbon emissions fell by 2% in 2008, figures show; The UK exceeded its Kyoto target to cut emissions by 12.5% on 1990 levels, but will not meet the goal of 20% by 2010
2 February 2010 (UK Guardian)

"The UK's greenhouse gas emissions fell by almost 2% in 2008…The final [official] estimates for the year showed a fall of 1.9% in the group of six greenhouse gases and a drop of 2% for the most common of them, carbon dioxide.

"According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the decrease is the result of continuing to switch from coal to natural gas for making electricity, combined with lower consumption of fossil fuels in industry and transport…But emissions from households rose…"

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"Overall, the six greenhouse gases declined from 640.5m tonnes in 2007 to 628.3m tonnes in 2008, while CO2 emissions dropped from 543.6m tonnes to 532.8m tonnes."

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"There were decreases in emissions from energy supply, transport, businesses and industrial processes, but greenhouse gases from homes – which includes heating but not electricity generation – rose by 3.1% and CO2 increased by 3.2%…[T]he figures are slightly better than the results for 2007, which saw carbon dioxide emissions fall by 1.5% and…[other] greenhouse gases, including methane and nitrous oxides, [fall] by 1.7%…

"The UK has exceeded its target to cut emissions by 12.5% on 1990 levels as part of the Kyoto climate treaty…The 2008 figures showed a 10% reduction in carbon dioxide on 1990 levels without carbon trading, and 13% if trading was counted…The provisional figures for emissions in 2009, which are likely to have been affected by the recession, are published next month."