UK carbon emissions drop to lowest level since 19th century, study finds

The UK’s carbon dioxide emissions have fallen to their lowest level since the 19th century as coal use continues to plummet, analysis suggests.

 Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, Nottinghamshire,
England: UK’s coal use has fallen by 74% in a decade. 

Emissions of the major greenhouse gas fell almost 6% year on year in 2016, after the use of coal for electricity more than halved to record lows, according to the Carbon Brief website, which reports on climate science and energy policy.

The assessment suggests carbon emissions in 2016 were about 381m tonnes, putting the UK’s carbon pollution at its lowest level – apart from during coal mining disputes in the 1920s – since 1894.

Carbon emissions in 2016 are about 36% below the reference year of 1990, against which legal targets to cut climate pollution are measured.

Read The Guardian story - “UK carbon emissions drop to lowest level since 19th century, study finds.”