e-Digest Statistics about: Climate Change
Emissions of carbon dioxide for local authority areas
The files below provide details of the experimental statistics of carbon dioxide emissions for Local Authority (NUTS4) and Government Office Region (NUTS1) areas for the year 2005, published on 20th November 2007.
2005 Defra Statistical Summary (PDF 140kb)
2005 Main Report (PDF download 2.2Mb)
2005 Main Report spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel workbook 550kb)
The main report and data tables were produced on behalf of Defra by AEA Energy and Environment.
These estimates are not comparable with either of the datasets published previously, for 2003 and 2004, due to improvements in the source data and methodology used.
Separate documents accompany the main report, covering a number of areas in more detail. These are as follows:
- Users of the LA and Regional CO2 estimates of emissions for 2004
- - a summary of examples of usage of the 2004 estimates, based on a review of websites which refer to the 2004 dataset.
- Site specific fuel use estimates
- - which outlines the process used to derive estimates of fuel used by large consumers.
- Mapping Carbon Emissions & Removals for the Land Use, Land Use Change & Forestry (LULUCF) Sector
- - a report prepared by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) looking at LULUCF emissions and removals at the Local Authority level within the UK for the 2005 greenhouse gas inventory.
Future developments
It is intended that estimates will continue to be produced annually in future years. It is anticipated that the 2006 dataset, to be published in 2008, will no longer be labelled as “experimental” and will be given full National Statistics status. It is expected that further improvements to the underlying data and methodology will be made in this dataset which will improve the level of accuracy in certain sectors. From the publication of the 2006 dataset onwards, the data will therefore be consistent from one year to the next, and year on year comparisons will be possible - which will allow us to re-label the data as full National Statistics. It has not been possible to make these improvements in time for the release of the 2005 dataset.
Users of the data should note that when the 2006 dataset is published in 2008, it is also intended to review and revise the 2005 dataset in line with the changes in the underlying data and methodology, so as to also enable comparisons between these two years. The publication of all future years’ datasets will then also be accompanied by an update to previous years’ datasets from 2005 onwards, to ensure a consistent time series is maintained. However, no revisions will be made in this way to either of the 2003 or 2004 datasets.
The new Local Government Performance Framework
As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 announcement, the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) recently published a single set of 198 national indicators that will underpin the local government performance framework. CLG are currently consulting on the technical details of the proposed indicators.
As proposed by Defra, the new indicator set includes two performance indicators on climate change mitigation, one of which is “Per capita reduction of CO2 emissions in the Local Authority area”. Details of this indicator can be found at this Defra page for Local Government Indicators
The 2005 dataset published with this statistics release will now set the baseline for this indicator, and will enable Local Authorities to commence work on setting targets in Local Area Agreements. A sheet labelled “Indicator summary” in the main report spreadsheet provides an extract of the full dataset which can be used for this purpose.
Note for Government Offices and Local Authorities (added on 12th April 2008)
In the context of the new local government performance framework applicable in England since 1 April 2008, it has been decided that for the purposes of the indicator covering “Per capita reduction of CO2 emissions in the Local Authority area”, the calculation of per capita emissions should be based on the most recent ONS mid-year estimates of population (from 2007) as opposed to the most recent full population census data (from the 2001 census) as used in the existing dataset.
A revised version of the “Indicator Summary” sheet published previously in November 2007 can be found at:
Local and Regional Estimates Carbon Emissions by End User revised April 2008
Although revisions will be made to this dataset in 2008, it is anticipated that these will not result in significant changes, with the possible exception of the non-gas, non-electricity, industrial and commercial emissions. Since the indicator will measure a percentage reduction rather than an absolute change in the level of emissions, this should not preclude Local Authorities from using the current version of the 2005 dataset for setting a baseline. In respect of non-gas, non-electricity, industrial and commercial emissions, further work is required to improve this element of the dataset, and this will be undertaken in time for the publication of the 2006 dataset in 2008. Authorities for whom these emissions are significant should be aware of this when using the data.
Other resources for local authorities
The Energy Measures Report
The Energy Measures Report sets out the steps which local authorities can take to improve energy efficiency, increase the levels of microgeneration and other low carbon technologies, cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the number of households living in fuel poverty.
The report is structured into a series of modules, allowing local authorities to navigate only to those areas which are relevant to them. There are modules on key local authority activities, including community leadership, planning, housing, transport and energy advice: BERR Energy Measures Report
The Sustainable Energy Beacons Toolkit
The seven ‘sustainable energy’ beacon authorities have created two self-assessment tools – a draft benchmark and an interactive toolkit. These inter-related tools will help councils evaluate their own performance and provide guidance for improvement: The sustainable energy benchmark and toolkit
The Energy Saving Trust’s remit covers sustainable energy in housing and transport, and its Practical Help service (0870 241 2089, practicalhelp@est.org.uk) is a dedicated service for local authorities that offers a range of information on sustainable energy: Energy Saving Trust – Housing & Buildings
The Carbon Trust provides councils with technical and change management support and guidance to help them realise carbon emissions savings, and has tools that will help Local Authorities quantify emissions. More details can be found at: Local Authority Carbon Management Programme
The Emissions Monitoring Group of the South East Climate Change Partnership (SECCP) have developed a simple emissions monitoring tool designed to help estimate carbon emissions from both LA activities and for the wider LA area. The tool has been developed in consultation with Defra, DTI and AEA and is freely available. It has also been adopted by the Nottingham Declaration. More details can be found at: SECCP reports
The Nottingham Declaration Action Pack can be found at: The Nottingham Declaration – Action Pack
The Local Government Climate Change Commission
The LGA have convened a Local Government Climate Change Commission, which is investigating the role of local authorities in tackling climate change and is producing some useful resources: LGA Climate Change Commission
Feedback
We would welcome your feedback to help us improve these estimates in the future.
Please send your comments to: enviro.statistics@defra.gsi.gov.uk. A word document template has been prepared which suggests some questions you might want to answer, but please send us any other comments you have.
Archive
Please note the estimates for 2003 and 2004 are not comparable with those for 2005.
- 2003 Defra Statistical Summary (PDF download)
- 2003 Main AEA Energy and Environment Report (PDF download 880kb)
- 2003 Main report spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel workbook 370kb)
- 2004 Defra Statistical Summary (PDF download)
- 2004 Main AEA Energy and Environment Report (PDF download 880kb)
- 2004 Main report spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel workbook 370kb)
Further Information:
The Statistical Release can be found at:
Page last modified: 12 April 2008
Page published: 20 November 2007