In a recent update from DESNZ about UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2024, figures for UK greenhouse gas emissions fell by 3% year-on-year in 2024. Total territorial emissions are down to 373 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (MtCO₂e). Emissions are now 53% lower than 1990 levels, reflecting long‑term progress despite uneven reductions across sectors.
As national emissions continue to decline unevenly across sectors, consistent greenhouse gas reporting remains essential for organisations to understand their own emissions profile and contribution to wider reductions.
Key Takeaways
Overview
The government’s Final UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2024 statistics confirm a modest but significant year‑on‑year reduction in emissions, reinforcing the UK’s long‑term decarbonisation trend. However, the figures also highlight widening differences between sectors, with progress increasingly concentrated in power generation rather than demand‑side activity across transport and the built environment.
The largest reduction came from the electricity supply sector, where emissions fell 16% year‑on‑year, driven by higher renewable generation, increased electricity imports and the closure of the UK’s last coal‑fired power station in September 2024. Industrial emissions also declined, falling 7%, largely due to reduced coal use and structural changes within the iron and steel sector.
However, progress was not uniform. Domestic transport remained the UK’s largest emitting sector, accounting for 30% of total emissions, with levels broadly unchanged from 2023. Emissions from buildings and product use increased by 4%, reflecting higher gas demand as energy cost pressures eased. These trends highlight the growing importance of demand‑side action alongside power‑sector decarbonisation.
Overall, the final figures reinforce the UK’s continued trajectory toward its climate targets, while underlining the challenge facing organisations and policymakers in tackling emissions from transport, heat and the built environment as the next phase of decarbonisation takes shape.
Tim Holman, Director at TEAM Energy, said:
The continued fall in UK greenhouse gas emissions is a clear sign that power sector decarbonisation is delivering results. However, these figures also underline a harder truth: further progress now depends on tackling emissions from transport, heat and buildings. For organisations, the next phase of net zero will be less about generation alone and more about managing demand, improving energy efficiency and making the built environment work smarter.