Business
The business sector accounted for just over 18% of UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2020. Most of this was carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion in industry and commerce. This could be from a range of sources – from heating buildings to the use of energy for manufacturing. Transportation of goods, however, is not included here – those emissions are included in the transport sector.
It’s worth noting that emissions of F-gases from the use of fluorinated compounds, particularly in refrigeration and air-conditioning, have been increasing in recent years and are not insignificant.
Emissions from business decreased steadily between 1990 and 2019, albeit slowly. The overall decrease over the period was around 35%. This was largely driven by a reduction in emissions from industrial combustion over the period – this is from across all industrial sectors, not just iron and steel. Whilst most of the reduction was dominated by emissions of carbon dioxide, fluorinated gases on the other hand have increased significantly, peaking in 2014. This has mainly been due to an increase in emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning; between 1993 and 2002, hydrofluorcarbons (HFCs) were used to replace other, ozone depleting, substances which were previously used as refrigerants. The introduction of new F-gas regulations by the EU in 2014 has resulted in a gradual decline in these emissions in more recent years.
In 2020, there was a noticeable fall in emissions from the business sector due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The additional end-user emissions are emissions from the energy supply sector which have been re-allocated to businesses. The majority of this is related to electricity consumption. As the energy supply sector has decarbonised over time, these emissions have also gradually decreased in line with that.
It’s worth noting that emissions of F-gases from the use of fluorinated compounds, particularly in refrigeration and air-conditioning, have been increasing in recent years and are not insignificant.
Emissions from business decreased steadily between 1990 and 2019, albeit slowly. The overall decrease over the period was around 35%. This was largely driven by a reduction in emissions from industrial combustion over the period – this is from across all industrial sectors, not just iron and steel. Whilst most of the reduction was dominated by emissions of carbon dioxide, fluorinated gases on the other hand have increased significantly, peaking in 2014. This has mainly been due to an increase in emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning; between 1993 and 2002, hydrofluorcarbons (HFCs) were used to replace other, ozone depleting, substances which were previously used as refrigerants. The introduction of new F-gas regulations by the EU in 2014 has resulted in a gradual decline in these emissions in more recent years.
In 2020, there was a noticeable fall in emissions from the business sector due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The additional end-user emissions are emissions from the energy supply sector which have been re-allocated to businesses. The majority of this is related to electricity consumption. As the energy 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, the business sector will need to move away from a reliance on fossil fuels. That could mean making business 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, the business sector will need to move away from a reliance on fossil fuels. That could mean making business 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.
