City listed among top ten UK CO2 polluters
Stirling Council says Net Zero agenda is a top priority
Shock statistics have revealed that Stirling is in the top 10 UK polluters by population of CO2.
Newly-released data shows that the UK produced more than 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2021, which was a 6.3 per cent increase on the previous year. This has seen a national push for people to begin reducing their carbon footprint.
With this in mind, new research has named Stirling amongst the UK cities emitting the most CO2 per 10,000 people.
The city features in seventh place, emitting roughly 55.72 kilo tonnes of CO2 per 10,000 people.
The experts at Utility Bidder have carried out research to reveal the UK cities with the highest CO2 emissions, as well as those with the highest emissions per 10,000 residents, the sectors producing the most CO2.
Welsh cities Newport and Wrexham are first and second with 63.57 and 60,20 kilo tonnes respectively and Stirling is the only Scottish city featuring in the list of shame. With growing concern around the effects of climate change, it is now more important than ever for people to consider adopting a more eco-conscious lifestyle.
In the UK, carbon makes up an overwhelming majority of greenhouse gas emissions, and have been made to reduce this harmful carbon footprint. From low-carbon travel initiatives to business energy suppliers offering renewable power alternatives, there are now more opportunities than ever to do your bit for the environment.
Researches were curious about which areas of the UK are currently the most ecoconscious, and who is guilty of producing the most CO2.
Using a combination of government data and search result information, they put together a collection of lists denoting the current state of carbon emissions in the UK.
A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “The data used in the report is based on significant assumptions, with the number of roads added up and a CO2 equivalent factor applied to produce the figures.
“In larger local authority areas, such as Stirling, transport costs will be higher, while the traffic on motorways and trunk roads is harder for councils to control.
“That being said, the net zero agenda is a key priority for Stirling Council and we are committed to working with our communities and local partners to continue cutting and capturing carbon emissions.
“Since 2005, Stirling has seen a 52 per cent reduction in per capita emissions compared to the Scottish average of 48 per cent for the same period. While collective action is vital to avert climate change, the council has been taking the lead in tackling the climate emergency locally, cutting its carbon emissions by almost 50 percent since 2006/07.
“To maintain this momentum, the council has rolled out a string of transformational sustainability projects in recent years to improve and protect the environment.”
The Stirling Council spokesperson added: “Although we have made significant strides in reducing our carbon footprint, we know we need to continue working with residents, local partners and businesses to take the actions that will transform Stirling into the greenest area in Scotland.”