UK emissions fall in 2011 on the back of renewables increase and warmer temperatures

The UK recorded a seven per cent decrease in greenhouse emissions over the past year, due to a combination of changes in the energy mix and changes in the temperature.

Last year was particularly warm, which reduced demand for energy significantly, however the decrease was also due to a two per cent increase in renewables, which now make up 9.5 per cent of the energy mix, and nuclear, which has increased three per cent to 19 per cent of the mix.

These are baby steps, and some feel that the UK should be doing more to reduce emissions, but they will come as a relief to the government, which has been under attack for its ‘greenwash’ tactics. Ed Davey, Energy and Climate Change Secretary said the results showed "more evidence of how the UK is leading the way in the fight against climate change".

"Carbon emissions are down, homes are more energy efficient and low carbon power is up," he said. "Thanks to the Green Deal and the government's reforms to the electricity market I hope to see this trend continue and gather pace."

The real success comes in the residential sector, which has seen a 22 per cent drop in emissions. Buildings offer a huge opportunity for reductions, with energy efficiency measures able to reduce emissions by much more than have been seen so far. The energy supply sector has also seen a reduction of six per cent in terms of emissions, business emissions dropped by eight per cent and gas demand dropped by 17 per cent.

Renewables capacity has taken a huge leap, increasing by 32 per cent from a year earlier; this is from a low starting point compared to some other countries however. Scotland has also met its target of 31 per cent of its energy coming from renewables, which has gone a long way towards the UK increase.

One must be careful to not be too optimistic with these figures; it was a good year for both renewables production and a warm year, which reduces energy demand. The test will be how these figures look over the next five years. Will energy use continue to decrease? Will the renewables sector continue to expand?