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UK emissions – breakdown by gas and emissions source
What do we know about the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions? What activities are causing emissions, and of what gases? And are they being reduced quickly enough?
Greenhouse gas emissions are reported either by gas, or by the source sector of the emissions, or by a combination of the two. The source sector describes the type of activity which led to the emissions – for example, agriculture or transport.
Greenhouse gas emissions are reported either by gas, or by the source sector of the emissions, or by a combination of the two. The source sector describes the type of activity which led to the emissions – for example, agriculture or transport.
Breakdown of emissions by source sector
In the UK, emissions are reported in terms of eight source sectors. These are called Territorial Emissions Statistics sectors, and they are:
Click in the list for more information about each of these sectors.
In 2023, 29% of greenhouse gas emissions were from the domestic transport sector, 20% from buildings and product uses, 14% from industry, 12% from agriculture, 12% from electricity supply, 8% from fuel supply, and 5% from waste. The balance, less than 1%, were from the LULUCF sector, which can act as either a source or a sink, removing emissions from the atmosphere.
- Domestic transport
- Buildings and product uses
- Industry
- Electricity supply
- Agriculture
- Fuel supply
- Waste
- Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)
Click in the list for more information about each of these sectors.
In 2023, 29% of greenhouse gas emissions were from the domestic transport sector, 20% from buildings and product uses, 14% from industry, 12% from agriculture, 12% from electricity supply, 8% from fuel supply, and 5% from waste. The balance, less than 1%, were from the LULUCF sector, which can act as either a source or a sink, removing emissions from the atmosphere.
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The breakdown of 2023 emissions by both gas and source sector is below, firstly in absolute terms and then as percentages of the UK’s total emissions.
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Breakdown of emissions by end-user sector
There is also another way of reporting emissions; by end-user. The end-user breakdown re-allocates emissions by source from the electricity supply and fuel supply sectors to other sectors where that electricity and fuel were used – in other words, where the “end-use” activity occurred. The electricity supply and fuel supply sectors are where emissions occurring at places such as power stations and oil refineries are reported. This therefore means that, amongst other things, the end-user breakdown re-allocates emissions occurring at power stations in generating electricity to the place where the electricity is actually consumed, in buildings and by industry in particular. Similarly, emissions occurring in producing motor fuels will also be mostly re-allocated to the domestic transport sector, where they are mainly used.
The end-user breakdown is important as it tells us about emissions in each sector from ALL energy consumption, not just that arising from the use of fossil fuels. It can help to both demonstrate and track the benefits of how different sectors move away from fossil fuels to electricity for their energy, whilst at the same time changing how that electricity is generated - from renewable sources rather than from burning gas and coal.
According to the end-user breakdown for 2023, 32% of greenhouse gas emissions were from the domestic transport sector, 30% from buildings and product uses, 18% from industry, 12% from agriculture and 5% from waste. As with emissions by source, less than 1% of emissions were from the LULUCF sector.
The balance of less than 3% was allocated to an additional sector which is only relevant in the end-user breakdown – End-use outside UK. Some electricity and fuels which are produced within the UK – fuel produced at refineries for example - is exported, meaning that the end-use activity in this case occurs outside the UK. As emissions by end-user need to be equal to emissions by source, an additional End-use outside UK sector therefore needs to be included, so as to re-allocate emissions which occur within the UK but for which there is no end-use in the UK.
Click here for more information about the End-use outside UK sector.
The end-user breakdown is important as it tells us about emissions in each sector from ALL energy consumption, not just that arising from the use of fossil fuels. It can help to both demonstrate and track the benefits of how different sectors move away from fossil fuels to electricity for their energy, whilst at the same time changing how that electricity is generated - from renewable sources rather than from burning gas and coal.
According to the end-user breakdown for 2023, 32% of greenhouse gas emissions were from the domestic transport sector, 30% from buildings and product uses, 18% from industry, 12% from agriculture and 5% from waste. As with emissions by source, less than 1% of emissions were from the LULUCF sector.
The balance of less than 3% was allocated to an additional sector which is only relevant in the end-user breakdown – End-use outside UK. Some electricity and fuels which are produced within the UK – fuel produced at refineries for example - is exported, meaning that the end-use activity in this case occurs outside the UK. As emissions by end-user need to be equal to emissions by source, an additional End-use outside UK sector therefore needs to be included, so as to re-allocate emissions which occur within the UK but for which there is no end-use in the UK.
Click here for more information about the End-use outside UK sector.
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Trends in emissions since 1990
Since 1990, the base year for the UK’s Carbon Budgets, there has been a long-term downward trend in UK greenhouse gas emissions. Most years have seen a year-on-year decrease, and emissions have actually decreased in all but seven years.
In 2023, total UK emissions were more than 52% lower than in 1990. In absolute terms, that’s a reduction of 426 MtCO2 equivalent. This overall reduction has been dominated by the electricity supply sector, where emissions have reduced over the period by 78%.
In 2023, total UK emissions were more than 52% lower than in 1990. In absolute terms, that’s a reduction of 426 MtCO2 equivalent. This overall reduction has been dominated by the electricity supply sector, where emissions have reduced over the period by 78%.
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Looking at the end-user sectors, where emissions from the electricity and fuel supply sectors have been re-allocated to the other sectors which use that energy, the largest reductions between 1990 and 2023 were seen in the buildings & product uses and industry sectors. Emissions from the industry sector in particular reduced over the period by around 72%. Much of this reduction will have been due to the decarbonisation of the electricity supply sector – in other words, the effect of more electricity having been generated from renewable sources.
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In 2023, 48% of emissions from the electricity and fuel supply sectors were re-allocated to the buildings & product uses sector as end-user emissions. The industry sector also received a significant re-allocation of these emissions, around 20% of the total. For both these sectors, most of the re-allocated emissions were from power stations generating electricity. Around 17% of emissions were re-allocated to the domestic transport sector – most of this was emissions from the processing of fuels, at refineries for example.
The chart above highlights the role of electricity in reducing emissions. Most electricity is consumed in either the buildings & product uses or industry sectors, and both these sectors have benefitted from emissions reductions in the electricity supply sector. However, the domestic transport sector, where most emissions come directly from burning fossil fuels - either petrol or diesel - has not seen the same noticeable decrease in emissions when those are measured on an end-user basis.
The chart above highlights the role of electricity in reducing emissions. Most electricity is consumed in either the buildings & product uses or industry sectors, and both these sectors have benefitted from emissions reductions in the electricity supply sector. However, the domestic transport sector, where most emissions come directly from burning fossil fuels - either petrol or diesel - has not seen the same noticeable decrease in emissions when those are measured on an end-user basis.
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