UK carbon footprint at its smallest since 1859 - Carbon Brief

The UK’s aim to reduce coal combustion is on track and down to 5% of the electricity generated for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, analysis from Carbon Brief revealed.

Britain’s carbon emissions are the lowest they have been since 1890, although per person the average is as small as it was in 1859.

This commitment from the government is forcing energy companies to transition to clean power to avoid the tax on carbon with businesses such as Scottish Power turning from fossil fuels and selling off gas-fired power plants to invest in renewable energy.

These measures from the government include a ban on coal-fired power from 2025 and a withdrawal of the subsidy deal which pays companies to use biomass in 2027.

To further reduce the UK's footprint, changes will also come to households. A report released earlier this week by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Nottingham Trent University, says 26m homes will need deep retrofitting to guarantee energy efficiency is improved by 2050.

Home energy demand currently accounts for around 20% of the UK’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and over three-quarters of this demand comes from space and water heating. This could be improved by increasing thermal efficiency of houses.