Report claims UK emission reduction is incorrect
August 11, 2008
Reports from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) suggest that the UK is incorrect in claiming to be reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The SEI's reports suggest that, instead of falling since 1990, the UK's greenhouse gas emissions have actually been increasing in proportion to the growing economy, once emissions from aviation, shipping and imported goods are taken into account. Currently, emissions from these sources do not have to be included in international carbon accounts.
One of the reports, produced for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), states that, between 1992 and 2004, carbon dioxide emissions associated with UK consumption increased by 115 million tonnes (18%).
The SEI report makes the point that measuring emissions on the basis of consumption will produce very different figures to those reported under the Kyoto Protocol. Emissions of carbon dioxide embedded in imports increased from 35% of total emissions in 1992 to 67% in 2004. Likewise, over the same period, the emissions embedded in exports increased from 31% to 45%. The conclusion is that, although the UK has managed to reduce its own emissions, these reductions have been more than offset by increased emissions generated through the consumption of imported goods and services.
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