Official Statistics

Carbon footprint for the UK and England to 2020

Updated 19 January 2024

1. Key points

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions associated with UK consumption (UK’s ‘carbon footprint’):

• Between 2019 and 2020, the UK’s carbon footprint is estimated to have fallen by 13 per cent. This decrease reflects decreases in emissions from transport direct by UK residents, a decrease in emissions from goods and services produced in the UK, and decreases in emissions from imported goods.
• The UK carbon footprint peaked at 959 million tonnes (mt) carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e) in 2007 and in 2020 was 39 per cent lower than this.
• GHG emissions relating to imports rose 72 per cent from 1996 (there is a little uncertainty around the figures in the source data for 1990 - 1995) to a peak in 2007 and in 2020 were 4 per cent higher than 1996. Emissions associated with imports from China also showed a peak in 2007. In 2020 they were 62 per cent higher than in 1996.
• In 2020, emissions relating to the consumption of goods and services produced in the UK were 53 per cent lower than in 1996.
• The findings indicate that the UK’s carbon dioxide footprint fell by 14 per cent between 2019 and 2020.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions associated with England’s consumption (England’s ‘carbon footprint’):

• Between 2019 and 2020, England’s carbon footprint is estimated to have fallen by 13 per cent. This decrease reflects decreases in emissions from transport direct by UK residents, a decrease in emissions from goods and services produced in the UK and decreases in emissions from imported goods.
• England’s carbon footprint peaked at 804 million tonnes CO₂e in 2004 and in 2020 was 39 per cent lower than this.
• GHG emissions relating to England’s imports rose 38 per cent from 2001 (when this data series began) to a peak in 2007 and in 2020 were 16 per cent lower than 2001.
• In 2020, emissions relating to the consumption of goods and services produced in England were 49 per cent lower than in 2001.
• The findings indicate that England’s carbon dioxide footprint fell by 12 per cent between 2019 and 2020.

2. Background to the data

The total carbon footprint now includes the seven main Greenhouse Gases comprising: CO₂, methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), Hydro-flourocarbons (HFC), Perflurocarbons (PFC), Nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆). The carbon dioxide footprint relates just to CO₂ emissions.

The carbon footprint refers to emissions that are associated with the consumption spending of UK/England residents on goods and services, wherever in the world these emissions arise along the supply chain, and those which are directly generated by UK/English households through private motoring and burning fuel to heat homes. These emissions are often referred to as ‘consumption emissions’ to distinguish them from estimates relating to the emissions ‘produced’ within a country’s territory or economic sphere. To find out what effect UK/England’s consumption has on GHG emissions we need to take into account where the goods we buy come from and their associated supply chains.

Since 1997, the UK economy has continued to move from a manufacturing base towards the services sector. One of the consequences of this is that more of the goods we buy and use are now produced overseas. This statistical release breaks down emissions into: those produced and consumed in the UK/England; those generated by households directly through heating and motoring; and those emissions relating to imports either from China, USA, Europe or the Rest of the World. It excludes emissions arising from UK/England produced goods that are exported.

Inherently the emissions relating to overseas production of imports to the UK/England, often referred to as emissions that are ‘embedded’ in imports, are not as easily measured as emissions generated within the UK borders. There are general conventions on how to do this but the results cannot be viewed as being as robust as the estimates of carbon emissions generated domestically.

Percentage changes presented in this statistical notice are based on unrounded figures.

2.1 Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on emissions

2020 covered the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the national lockdowns and travel restrictions. This probably had an impact on emissions, especially on emissions from transport generated directly from households and the emissions associated with household spend on air travel, hotels and restaurants

2.2 Removing the Experimental status of the Statistics

These statistics are no longer classified as experimental statistics because the methodology used to produce them is now fully developed according to current understanding and science but may incorporate future developments. The data used within the methodology is subject to ongoing review and refinement from time to time.

3. Greenhouse Gas emissions associated with consumption

The UK’s total carbon footprint has decreased by about 13 per cent between 2019 and 2020.

Figure 1: Greenhouse gas emissions associated with UK consumption 1996 to 2020

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The UK carbon footprint (measured by GHG emissions) peaked in 2007 at 959 mt CO₂e. In 2020 it was 39 per cent lower than the 2007 peak (582 mt CO₂e). Figure 1 shows that the proportion of the total GHG footprint generated directly by UK households has remained between a fifth and a sixth of total emissions (16 and 21 per cent) between 1996 and 2020. In 2020 total greenhouse gas emissions associated with UK consumption directly by households were 21 per cent lower than in 1996. Emissions associated with UK production, were 53 per cent lower in 2020 than 1996 levels. These emissions accounted for 32 per cent of the total UK GHG footprint in 2020. UK production emissions were 186 mt CO₂e in 2020, which was a decrease on the 2019 level of 228 mt CO₂e.

The level of emissions generated directly by households decreased to 125 mt CO₂e in 2020, below the range of 135 - 162 mt CO₂e that it has fallen in since 1996. Within the category, emissions from heating have fluctuated around 68 to 95 mt CO₂e, depending upon the severity of the winter. In 2020 emissions from heating were 71 mt CO₂e, similar to 2019. Embedded emissions from imports increased by 72 per cent from 1996 to 2007 when they reached a peak. In 2020 they were 272 mt CO₂e which was 40 per cent lower than the peak.

Figure 2: Greenhouse gas emissions associated with England’s consumption 2001 to 2020

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In 2020 total greenhouse gas emissions associated with England’s consumption were 31 per cent lower than in 2001. Figure 2 sets out the changes in each of four main activities that make up the total. Emissions associated with England’s production, were 49 per cent lower in 2020 than 2001 levels. These emissions accounted for 32 per cent of the England’s total GHG footprint in 2020. England’s production emissions were 157 mt CO₂e in 2020, which was a decrease on the 2019 level of 193 mt CO₂e.

The level of emissions generated directly by households has remained broadly constant at around 111 - 135 mt CO₂e but fell to 103 CO₂e in 2020. Embedded emissions from imports increased by 38 per cent from 2001 to 2007 when they reached a peak. In 2020 they were 230 CO₂e which was 39 per cent lower than the peak.

Figure 3: Breakdown of UK consumption emissions by region of import 1996 to 2020

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Figure 3 shows that in 2020, emissions associated with imports from China were 38 mt CO₂e, which is 62 per cent higher than the 1996 level of 23 mt CO₂e. They now account for 14 per cent of the emissions associated with imports, compared to 9 per cent in 1996.

After a steady increase to a peak of 110 CO₂e in 2004, emissions relating to imports from Europe have decreased by 20 per cent to 88 mt CO₂e in 2020.

Emissions embedded in imports from the USA accounted for 6 per cent of imported emissions in 2020, from 12 per cent in 1996. They have decreased by 50 per cent since 1996, from 32 mt CO₂e to 16 mt CO₂e.

Emissions embedded in imports from the Rest of the World accounted for 48 per cent of imported emissions in 2020, and they have decreased by 6 per cent since 1996 to 130 mt CO₂e in 2020.

Figure 4: Breakdown of England’s consumption emissions by region of import 2001 to 2020

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Figure 4 shows that in 2020, emissions associated with imports from China to England were 32 mt CO₂e, which is 50 per cent higher than the 2001 level of 21 mt CO₂e. They now account for 14 per cent of the emissions associated with imports, compared to 8 per cent in 2001.

Emissions associated with imports from Europe to England peaked in 2004 at 93 mt CO₂e, emissions relating to imports from Europe have decreased 20 per cent since then to 75 mt CO₂e in 2020. Emissions relating to imports from Europe were 32 per cent of import emissions in 2020.

Emissions embedded in imports from the USA accounted for 6 per cent of imported emissions in 2020, from 11 per cent in 2001. They have decreased by 49 per cent since 2001.

Emissions embedded in imports from the Rest of the World accounted for 48 per cent of imported emissions in 2020, and they have decreased by 18 per cent since 2001 to 110 mt CO₂e in 2020

4. Carbon Dioxide emissions associated with consumption

Figure 5 looks at emissions from CO₂ only. CO₂ is the main greenhouse gas, accounting for 76 per cent of total UK consumption emissions in 2020.

Figure 5: UK CO₂ emissions associated with consumption 1996 to 2020

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In 2020, CO₂ accounted for 97 per cent of GHG emissions generated directly by UK households, 76 per cent of the GHG emissions from UK produced goods and services consumed in the UK, and 66 per cent of the GHG emissions embedded in imported goods and services.

Figure 6: England CO₂ emissions associated with consumption 2001 to 2020

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Figure 6 looks at emissions from CO₂ only. CO₂ is the main greenhouse gas, accounting for 79 per cent of total England consumption emissions in 2020. In 2020, CO₂ accounted for 100 per cent of GHG emissions generated directly by England’s households, 84 per cent of the GHG emissions from England produced goods and services consumed in England, and 66 per cent of the GHG emissions embedded in imported goods and services to England.

5. Relationship with other measures of GHG emissions

The UK’s carbon footprint is measured in different ways for different purposes. Each basis of measurement is published by the government. The different bases should be viewed as complementary ways of accounting for carbon emissions.

Territorial basis

Emission estimates are based on the UK greenhouse gas inventory and published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) – this is used as the basis for our reporting to the EC (European Commission) and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and forms the basis for reporting on progress towards our domestic and international emissions reduction targets. The inventory measures emissions on a territorial basis, so only includes emissions which occur within the UK’s borders. GHG emissions emitted in international territory, i.e. from international aviation and shipping, are reported as memorandum items.

Production basis

Emissions estimates are reported in the UK Environmental Accounts, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) - these measure GHG emissions on what is referred to as a “residents” basis, which means that the figures represent emissions produced by UK residents and industry whether in the UK or abroad but exclude emissions within the UK which can be attributed to overseas residents and businesses. International aviation and shipping emissions are allocated to countries based on the operator of the vessel.

Figure 7: Relationship of different measures of the UK’s GHG emissions 1996 to 2020

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Figure 7 shows the relationship between three different measures of GHG emissions relating to the UK. Whilst the carbon footprint has decreased 29 per cent over the time period, emissions on a territorial basis have decreased 48 per cent whilst emissions on a production or residents basis have decreased 42 per cent. The larger reduction in territorial emissions may be due to the UK economy further moving from a manufacturing base to a service base with a greater dependence upon imports and their associated embedded emissions.

6. What you need to know about this release

6.1 Contact details

Responsible statistician: Adele Storr

Email: EnviroStatistics@Defra.gov.uk

Media enquiries: 0330 041 6560 (Defra Press Office) or refer to Defra’s media enquiries page.

6.2 Official Statistics

This is an Official Statistics publication. These statistics have been produced to the high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, which sets out eight principles including meeting user needs, impartiality and objectivity, integrity, sound methods and assured quality, frankness and accessibility. For more information, please see the Official Statistics Code of Practice.

6.3 Feedback

We welcome feedback on the data from all users including how and why the data is used. This helps us to understand the value of the statistics to external users. Please see our contact details section of this notice.

6.4 Background to the statistics

The University of Leeds provides estimates of the UK and England’s carbon footprints by an agreement with Defra. The project updates previous work carried out by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) published by Defra in 2008. It uses a multi-region input-output (MRIO) model, to link the flows of goods and services described in monetary terms, with the emissions generated in the process of production. The latest estimates benefit from recent modelling developments at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) where trade data from their EXIOBASE database feeds directly into the UK model. In brief, this is a sophisticated computer model that can assimilate data on emissions and product flows from different countries and years in different classifications and valuations, dealing with the data gaps and reconciling inconsistencies.

6.5 Revisions

Each year the estimates relating to previous years are subject to revision, as a result of either revisions to the underlying data or because of methodological improvements. There are two methodological and data updates for the 2023 release:

Major improvement to the method for removing tax on imported goods. The 2023 release used altered methodology to ensure that the imports were the result of the total industrial output minus domestic use minus value added. This ensured that the column sums add up to the value for total industrial output in basic prices. The previous method over-estimated the value of imports because they were not based on this basic price total. The result of this change in the imports calculation is a reduction in the imported emissions reported in the consumption-based account. The actual difference in monetary terms between the imports row calculated in previous years and this year is relatively small, but the difference in emissions is exaggerated because the emissions intensity of imports is higher than the emissions intensity of domestic goods.

Move to GWP (Global Warming Potential) from AR5 not AR4. The 2023 release used the environmental accounts released in Autumn of 2022 which use AR5. The difference between these is minimal and the effect on the consumption accounts will also be minimal since the imported emissions data already uses the AR5 version of the GWPs. For more information on these changes, please see the accompanying methodology document. The methodology will continue to be improved, which may well lead to further revisions to the past time series.

6.6 Greenhouse gas emissions uncertainty

Defra published research on the uncertainty in the estimates as part of a previous report on consumption-based CO₂ emissions between 1992 and 2004. The research showed that the relative standard error for total CO₂ consumption emissions in any one year lies within the range of 3.3 per cent and 5.5 per cent. Since then, the methodology has become fully developed according to current understanding and science and also uses more up-to-date and reliable financial data, which has reduced the range of errors for the more recent years.

6.7 References

Wiedmann, T., Wood, R., Lenzen, M., Minx, J., Guan, D. and Barrett, J. (2008) (https://www.sei.org/publications/development-embedded-carbon-emissions-indicator-producing-time-series-input-output-tables-embedded-carbon-dioxide-emissions-uk-using-mrio-data-optimisation-system/) , Report to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York and Centre for Integrated Sustainability Analysis at the University of Sydney, June 2008. Defra, London, UK

Wiedmann, T., Lenzen, M. and Wood, R. (2008) (https://www.sei.org/publications/uncertainty-analysis-uk-mrio-model-results-monte-carlo-analysis-uk-multi-region-input-output-model-embedded-carbon-dioxide-emissions-indicator/) , Report to the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York and Centre for Integrated Sustainability Analysis at the University of Sydney. Defra, London, UK.

Office for National Statistics Environmental Accounts – For Production (Residents) Emissions (https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/datasets/ukenvironmentalaccountsatmosphericemissionsgreenhousegasemissionsbyeconomicsectorandgasunitedkingdom)

For Territorial Emissions

(www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-

statistics)

6.8 Notes

Whilst the research has not been subject to National Statistics assessment standards, in other respects the analysis has been conducted in line with the National Statistics’ Code of Practice