Progress towards national and international targets
In 2005 UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions were 15.3% below base year levels. Emissions fell by 0.5% between 2004 and 2005.
Between 2004 and 2005 emissions of carbon dioxide fell by 0.1%, to 6.4% below 1990 levels
The UK is on track to meet, and surpass, its Kyoto target. UK emissions in 2010 are predicted to be 23.6% below base year levels, 11.1% lower than required by Kyoto.
Full details of UK Greenhouse Gas emissions between 1990 and 2005 are available in the National Statistics release of 31 January 2007. A Defra news release was also issued on 31 January 2007.
This page will be updated shortly in the light of the figures on UK Greenhouse Gas emissions for 2006, published on 27 March 2008:
- UK on track to meet Kyoto targets as emissions continue to fall
- Statistical Release: UK climate change sustainable development indicator
Background
Under the Kyoto Protocol (PDF) [65KB], the UK must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% below base year levels over the 2008 to 2012 commitment period.
In 1997, the UK committed itself beyond to go beyond our Kyoto Protocol target by setting a national goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. In 2003, the Energy White Paper adopted a longer term goal to put the UK on a path to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by some 60% by 2050, with real progress by 2020.
While the UK is on track to meet its Kyoto Protocol target the UK government appreciates that we need to do more to meet our challenging domestic targets. The 2006 Climate Change Programme will put us back on track to achieving these.
Reporting the UK’s progress towards these targets
The UK submits annual reports on its progress towards its Kyoto Protocol target to both the European Union and the United Nations Conference for Climate Change (UNFCCC). These reports can be found on the UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory National System Web Site, together with a detailed description of how these reports are compiled.
Parties to the Kyoto Protocol are also obliged to submit reports demonstrating how the intend to achieve their obligations under the Protocol. A copy of the UK’s Demonstrable Progress report was sent to the UNFCCC in February 2006 and the UK’s Fourth National Communication to the UNFCCC was submitted in May 2006.
- Demonstrable Progress - The UK's report on Demonstrable Progress under the Kyoto Protocol (PDF) [260 KB]
- UK's Fourth National Communication to the UNFCCC (PDF) (1.4 MB)
Finally, all parties are obliged to calculate their Kyoto target in absolute terms before 31 December 2006. The UK’s Initial Report under the Kyoto Protocol, submitted to the UNFCCC in December 2006, sets our absolute Kyoto target. This report supersedes an earlier document submitted to the European Union.
- UK’s Initial Report under the Kyoto Protocol (PDF) (650 MB)
Page last modified: 1 April 2008
Page published: 01 December, 2005