The UK is the first major economy to halve its emissions, having cut them by 50% between 1990 and 2022, while also growing its economy by 79%.
New official statistics released today from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero found this compares to a 23% reduction in France and no change in the USA between 1990 and 2021.
With renewables now accounting for more than 40% of the country’s electricity – up from just 7% in 2010, this shows the UK is leading the way on cleaner energy, DESNZ stated.
These reductions are largely due to cutting emissions from energy generation, through the shift away from using coal to using renewables.
In 2012, coal provided almost 40% of UK electricity, but later this year, this will be zero.
DESNZ stated: “The UK is over-delivering on its commitment to reduce emissions, having already slashed emissions by 50%.
“We have also cut emissions faster than any other G7 country over the last decade. This has allowed us to take a more realistic approach while reaching our green targets, to ease the burden on hardworking families.
“Since September 2023 companies have announced plans for £30bn of new investment across the energy sector, including to advance green technologies and support green industries of the future.
“Not only has the UK cut emissions faster than any other major economy since 1990, but also has some of the most ambitious legally binding targets.
“We have also set more stretching targets for 2030 than most countries. We plan to cut emissions by 68% by 2030, which is more than the EU, Japan or the United States.”
Today’s statistics also confirmed the UK has over-achieved on the third carbon budget – making this the third carbon budget target in a row for which the UK has over-achieved, as it did for the first and second carbon budgets.
Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said: “The UK is the first major economy – of the top 20 countries – to halve its emissions. This is an enormous achievement by itself but also because we have done this in a pragmatic way – growing our economy by 80% at the same time and protecting family finances.
“We have also increased our renewables electricity generation from just 7% in 2010 to nearly 50% now.
“With some of the most ambitious targets in the world, we should be proud that we’ve over-achieved on our carbon budget for the third time in a row.
“We will continue to meet out targets but in a pragmatic way that doesn’t clobber extra costs onto hard working families.”