• New data published today by BEIS has found that total Green House Gas (GHG) emissions have fallen by 42% between 1990 and 2017 with a 38% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
• The data also found that between 2016 and 2017, energy supply and the residential sector saw the largest reductions in emissions at 8% and 4% respectively.
• Further analysis from Carbon Brief has found that without shifts towards renewable power generation and energy-efficiency, carbon emissions could have been double that of the 1990 statistics.
• The data found that transport was the largest emissions emitting sector with a 27% share of emissions.
• This comes on the same day the Government announced £6m funding for the installation of over 300 chargepoints for ultra-low emission taxis to be awarded to 17 local authorities across the UK.

Dr Nina Skorupska CBE, Chief Executive of the Renewable Energy Association commented:

“The data released today by the Government is a huge achievement for the UK and a testament to the effectiveness of targeted government support and industrial innovation working together to deliver a clear public good. Further analysis showing the shift towards renewable power generation and energy-efficiency being at the core of this reduction has served to validate the work of the industry and inspire us to continue to strive towards cheaper, greener and smarter energy.

“We’ve made strong progress in the power sector and it’s clear that transport needs to be maintained as a priority area, but we have seen major policy support emerge in 2018 that is encouraging the decarbonisation of transport. The worrying question in this data, however, is decarbonising heat in the absence of a clear plan. With the possibility of further changes to our electricity and gas networks needed to support the transition; the earlier the industry can have sight on the Governments’ vision for heat, the better.”

Daniel Brown, Policy Manager and EV lead at the REA commented:

“It’s encouraging to see just how much progress the UK have made in reducing emissions from 1990 levels with progress continuing to be made on a yearly basis. With over 30 million cars on the road, the majority of which are fuel powered, it is no surprise that the transport sector is the largest emissions emitter.

“However, the Government’s commitment to decarbonising transport has been seen through policy initiatives such as the Road to Zero and the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge which just today announced £6 million in funding to drive forward the ultra-low emission taxi industry. This combined with the increasing sophistication of charging infrastructure technology and the forecast cost parity of Electric Vehicles (EV’s) in the 2020’s are giving consumers the confidence to be able to purchase an EV as their next vehicle and reduce carbon emissions.”

—ENDS—

Notes to editors

• The UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics: 1990-2017 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics-1990-2017
• The Government announcement of £6 million in funding to be awarded to 17 local authorities across the UK can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-of-green-taxis-to-benefit-from-new-chargepoints
• Analysis from Carbon Brief titled ‘UK’s emissions could have doubled since 1990 without renewable energy’ can be found here: https://www.edie.net/news/10/Carbon-Brief–UK-s-emissions-could-have-doubled-since-1990-without-renewable-energy/

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Hayley Allen
External Affairs Officer
+44 (0)20 7981 0862
[email protected]

About the Renewable Energy Association (REA)

The REA is the UK’s largest trade association for renewable energy and clean technologies with around 550 members operating across heat, transport, and power. The REA is a not-for-profit organisation that represents renewable energy and clean technology companies operating in over fourteen sectors, ranging from biogas and renewable fuels to solar and electric vehicle charging. Membership ranges from major multinationals to sole traders.

For more information, visit: www.r-e-a.net