The ONS has published data showing that the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 3.5% between 2021 and 2022.

In 2022, net territorial greenhouse gas emissions in the UK were estimated to be 406.2 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), a decrease of 3.5% from 421.1 million tonnes in 2021, and 9.3% lower when compared to 2019, the most recent pre-pandemic year.

This reduction between 2021 and 2022 was primarily caused by a reduction in gas use for heating buildings, as a result of warmer weather in 2022 and higher energy prices causing people to cut back on energy usage.

A 5% fall in greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector and a 12% drop in greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture sector between 2021 and 2022 also contributed to the overall reduction.

Total greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 were 50.0% lower than they were in 1990 while carbon dioxide made up 80% of the 2022 GHG total.

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