Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science

The UK’s per capita emissions haven’t been this low in 150 years

Britain's greenhouse gas emissions haven't been this low since the Industrial Revolution -- and the difference maker is coal.

Mihai Andrei by Mihai Andrei
July 2, 2021
in Pieces, Science

For all the talk about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we rarely have the opportunity to present long-term success stories (at least so far). But a quick look at how the UK’s per capita CO2 emissions have changed over the past 200 years shows that there is still some reason for optimism.

In 1926, the UK was marked by a General Strike triggered by lowering coal prices (and subsequently, miner wages). Barring the anomalous year, the country’s emissions haven’t been this low since the 1850s, and the quickly decelerating trend that started in the late 1990s seems to continue today (although the pandemic may tamper with the few following years).

In other words, the UK’s per capita emissions are now at the same level they were at the end of the Industrial Revolution, despite a living standard that has grown tremendously. The estimated UK greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 49% between the 1990 baseline and 2020.

In truth, the UK isn’t even doing all that amazing compared to other European countries of comparable economic situation — although it’s doing far better than the US.

Instead, the striking difference comes from how much CO2 Britain was emitting at the time. It’s not that the UK is emitting few emissions now, it’s that it was emitting a lot already in the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution was powered by coal, and coal is the dirtiest form of fossil fuel. Any shift from coal can go a long way towards reducing emissions.

A lot more to go

Despite notable improvements, the UK still has a long way to go before it can claim to be sustainable. Coal has largely been replaced by natural gas, and although renewables are starting to produce a significant part of the total energy mix, around three quarters of Britain’s energy comes from fossil fuels.

If we look just at electricity, things do look a bit better and we get a glimpse of how renewables are indeed starting to grow. Although electricity is just a part of the above-mentioned energy consumption, it’s noteworthy that in 2020, renewables surpassed fossil fuels in energy generation for the first time in the country’s history. Wind power alone contributed 25% of electricity generation in 2020.

According to a recent analysis, the UK is about halfway to reaching its net zero emissions target — but this was the easier half. Shifting to renewable energy is an important step, but it also needs to be complemented by things like sustainable transportation and agriculture. As the economy rebounds after the pandemic, emissions are also expected to rise and compensate for what happened during the pandemic.

Overall, the UK — like the rest of the world — has a lot of work to do. But undoing almost two centuries of emissions in two decades offers some hope for the future. Moving to a greener and more sustainable future is extremely difficult; but maybe, just maybe, it can be done.

Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Related posts:
  1. For the first time, China surpasses the EU in per capita CO2 emissions
  2. Emissions per capita drop by 8% by 2025, if the 155 countries respect their UN pledges
  3. China pollutes more than previously thought – still way less per capita than the US
  4. US could be carbon neutral by 2050 – and it would cost $1 per citizen per day
  5. The last 150 years of global warming undid 6,500 years of cooling

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW