Industry
The industry sector was responsible for 14% of UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2023. This incorporates emissions from industrial fuel combustion, including from iron and steel production or from the use of energy for manufacturing, together with emissions from industrial processes, such as those used in cement production.
This sector has seen significant reductions in emissions since 1990, particularly up to 2009. This included some large year-on-year reductions, such as in emissions from adipic acid production and halocarbon production between 1998 and 1999, and combined emissions of these are now almost zero.
Since 2009, there have been further reductions, although not of the same magnitude. Emissions have still been decreasing, but much more slowly, mostly driven by a reduction in emissions from industrial combustion across all industrial sectors, not just iron and steel.
The additional end-user emissions, re-allocated from the electricity supply and fuel supply sectors, are mainly related to electricity consumption by industry. As the electricity supply sector has decarbonised over time, these emissions have also gradually decreased in line with that.
This sector has seen significant reductions in emissions since 1990, particularly up to 2009. This included some large year-on-year reductions, such as in emissions from adipic acid production and halocarbon production between 1998 and 1999, and combined emissions of these are now almost zero.
Since 2009, there have been further reductions, although not of the same magnitude. Emissions have still been decreasing, but much more slowly, mostly driven by a reduction in emissions from industrial combustion across all industrial sectors, not just iron and steel.
The additional end-user emissions, re-allocated from the electricity supply and fuel supply sectors, are mainly related to electricity consumption by industry. As the electricity supply sector has decarbonised over time, these emissions have also gradually decreased in line with that.
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What needs to be done to reach net-zero?
Put simply, industry will need to move away from a reliance on fossil fuels. That could mean making premises more energy efficient, or changing from gas to electricity for energy for example. Industry and manufacturing will need to continue to introduce measures to improve energy efficiency, and introduce electrification where that is an option.
Put simply, industry will need to move away from a reliance on fossil fuels. That could mean making premises more energy efficient, or changing from gas to electricity for energy for example. Industry and manufacturing will need to continue to introduce measures to improve energy efficiency, and introduce electrification where that is an option.
