Price surge led to all-time low in emissions

Britain’s greenhouse gas emissions fell to a new low in 2023 after households and businesses cut back on heating due to high energy prices.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said emissions within the country’s territorial boundaries fell 5.4 per cent to 384.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent last year. Officials said this was due to “reduced gas use in UK electricity generation and higher energy, and other prices reducing demand for heating”.

Energy prices for most British households hit record highs in late 2022.

The electricity sector, which makes up an estimated 12 per cent of UK emissions, saw emissions fall by 19.6 per cent in 2023. The UK also imported more electricity from France last year, curbing domestic fossil fuel power production.

Gas power generation in Britain fell by 21.1 per cent last year as a result.

High energy prices were also a “likely factor in reduced gas use for heating buildings”.

Industrial emissions fell by 8.0 per cent largely due to reduced fuel consumption in the iron and steel plants. Aviation, road travel and shipping saw emissions fall 1.4 per cent.

Campaigners called on the Government to deliver on measures like insulation, heat pumps and scaling up renewable energy.

Doug Parr, at Greenpeace UK, said: “Any fall in UK emissions is much needed, but let’s not fool ourselves that we’re on track to meet our international obligations or our legal carbon budgets by 2030.”

Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said: “This follows the UK’s achievement in becoming the first major economy to halve its emissions.”