UK reports emissions reduction after air monitoring

Britain has published details of its emissions for 2008 and noted that levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases fell when compared with the previous year.

According to the research, the UK emitted 1.9 per cent less CO2 in 2008 compared to 2007, with the energy, transport, business and industrial sectors all reporting falling emissions levels.

However, the residential sector increased the amount of carbon dioxide it released into the atmosphere over the same period, which reduced some of the gains.

Minister for energy and climate change Joan Ruddock described the data as "encouraging" and said that the UK was "clearly exceeding" its 12.5 per cent reduction target over 1990 levels set out in the Kyoto protocol.

"We are determined to strengthen and sustain the momentum behind the low-carbon transition in the UK," she said.

Under the Kyoto protocol, countries were required to reduce their output of a range of greenhouse gases as well as carbon dioxide, including methane, nitrous oxide and hydro fluorocarbons.

Posted by Joseph Hutton