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The UK has met its first carbon budget despite a greenhouse gas emissions bump in 2012, the Department of Energy and Climate Change announced on Tuesday.
Emissions came in at 2,981.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in the period 2008-2012, just under the cap of 3,018MtCO2e.
The final figures for 2012 show emissions rose 3.2 per cent from 2011, however. Household emissions jumped by 12.3 per cent, attributed to a cold winter and increased use of gas for heating. Energy sector emissions rose 5.9 per cent, driven by a 32 per cent increase in coal generation.
Energy secretary Ed Davey said: “We have reached an important milestone today. The UK has met its first carbon budget, which is the first step in fulfilling our commitment to cut Britain’s emissions by 80% to 2050.
“The increase in emissions in 2012, compared to 2011, is of course worrying – but it needs to be put in the context of higher gas costs that made coal a more attractive fuel for electricity generation, and an increase in residential gas use due a very cold winter.
“Green investment has been booming in the UK, with renewable electricity generation doubling and £31bn of renewable energy investment announced since 2010. Now with the Energy Act 2013, we can look forward not just to hitting our renewable targets for 2020, but beating them.”
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