National statistics

Emissions of air pollutants

An annual publication covering the emissions of some important air pollutants.

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This publication provides estimates of UK emissions of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen oxides, ammonia, non-methane volatile organic compounds and sulphur dioxide.

These statistics are used to monitor progress against the UK’s emissions reduction targets for air pollutants. Emissions reductions in the UK contribute to improvements in air quality in the UK alongside a number of other factors. For more information on air quality data and information please refer to the air quality and emissions statistics GOV.UK page.

The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory contains information on anthropogenic UK emissions and compilation methods for a wide range of air pollutants; as well as hosting a number of reports including the Devolved Administrations’ Air Quality Pollutant Inventories.

The methodology to estimate emissions is continuously reviewed and developed to take account of new data sources, emission factors and modelling methods. This means the whole time series is revised annually. You can access editions of this publication via The National Archives or the links below.

Please email us with your feedback, or respond to this short survey to help us make the publication more valuable to you.

2023

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2021

18 February 2023

2022

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2020

14 February 2022

2021

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2019

12 February 2021

2020

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2018

14 February 2020

2019

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2017

15 February 2019

2018

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2016

15 February 2018

2016

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2015

21 December 2016

2015

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2014

17 December 2015

2014

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2013

18 December 2014

2013

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2012

18 December 2013

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2011 (original and revised versions)

1 August 2013

2012

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2010 – Supplementary results

13 February 2012

2011

Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2010

15 December 2011

UK emissions of air pollutants: 2009 (first and additional results)

10 February 2011

2010

UK emissions of air pollutants: 2008 (first and additional results)

11 February 2010

2009

UK emissions of air pollutants: 2007 (first and additional results)

13 February 2009

2008

UK emissions of air pollutants: 2006 results

13 March 2008

Defra statistics: environment

Email: enviro.statistics@defra.gov.uk

Published 18 December 2012
Last updated 19 February 2024 + show all updates
  1. Link to 2021 data amended.

  2. Amended text in paragraph on particulate matter in the summary attachment.

  3. Annual update.

  4. Broken link fixed.

  5. Link to summary page added in each HTML attachment.

  6. Figures for 2021 Statistical release published

  7. Opening paragraph removed. Also one sentence amended in the sulphur dioxide (SO2) attachment.

  8. New annual publication.

  9. The URLs to each HTML page within this release were updated to remove legacy components that were initially included in the URLs when the publication was first published in the HTML format last year. The new URLs will ensure that no further changes to the URLs will be required in future updates to the publication.

  10. URL link amended.

  11. Typo.

  12. New publication for 2021 containing data from 1970 to 2019 inclusive.

  13. Amended PDF attachment now with complete data uploaded and republished.

  14. Various amendments made to figures.

  15. This publication has been updated to address accessibility issues. Changes include modification of alt text, improvement to the colour contrast of figures, removal of merged cells in tables, and tweaks to formatting such as subscripting and HTML links. Some of the text has been reworded to improve clarity and understanding, but no changes have been made to the statistics since the initial publication in February.

  16. Amendments to text on emissions of air pollutants statistical release page.

  17. Annual update.

  18. Annual update.

  19. Annual update to publication.

  20. Annual update figures published 1970 to 2014

  21. Latest statistical release 1970 to 2013.

  22. Figures for 2012 published

  23. added note on Devolved Administrations inventory release is September.

  24. First published.