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Emissions figures 'do not tell the whole story'

Posted: 31/01/2008

According to new figures relaeased by DEFRA, overall greenhouse gas emissions fell slightly in 2006, but environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth say the government is not telling the full story.

The final figures for all emissions in the UK in 2006 show that total greenhouse gas emissions were down 0.5 per cent on 2005 levels, while carbon dioxide (CO2), which makes up about 85 per cent of UK emissions, stayed virtually the same (a 0.1 per cent fall).

Greener building and homeowners efforts to improve energy efficiency are clearly having some effect, as the biggest decrease in CO2 emissions was in the residential sector, with a fall of 4 per cent on 2005 levels, along with a decrease of 1.6 per cent in the business sector.

Other sectors increased, including energy supply (up by 1.5 per cent) and transport (up by 1.3 percent).

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said that the decrease in emissions from the residential sector, coming on top of a similar decrease in 2005, was a hopeful sign.

“The fall in household emissions for the second year in a row is very encouraging. People are much more aware of their impact on the climate than they were even a few years ago, and I’m hopeful that these figures will become a continuing trend as we all increase our efforts to cut our carbon footprints at home.”

Nevertheless, Friends of the Earth pointed out that the government's figures do not include the UK's share of international aviation and shipping emissions. Overall international aviation and shipping emissions continue to rise.

FOE claim the figures would be 6 per cent higher if pollution from international flights was included, and is calling on the Government to include these missing emissions in the Climate Change Bill.

Aviation is the fastest growing source of emissions in the UK and has twice the climate impact because the gases are emitted at altitude. Yet the Government has left aviation emissions out of the Climate Change Bill currently being debated in parliament.

The Tyndall centre has calculated that the missing emissions would mean the climate change bill is too weak to be compatible with stopping dangerous climate change. The UK Met office define a rise in global average temperatures of more than 2 degrees as `dangerous'. The Tyndall centre predict that the Bill, as it is currently drafted, points to a 4 or 5 degree rise in temperature.

Friends of the Earth Transport Campaigner, Richard Dyer said: The latest Government figures are a stark reminder of how ineffective the Government has been at tackling the UK's carbon dioxide emissions. Delivering a strong climate change law is more important then ever. Yet the Government plans to leave the UK's share of international aviation emissions out of its proposed climate change law. We can't let the Government get away with pretending these emissions from aviation do not exist. They need to give the public the full story about the UK's emissions.

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