10/06/2014

NI Sees Lowest Greenhouse Gas Reduction In UK

Northern Ireland has seen the lowest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2012, when compared to the rest of the United Kingdom, it has been revealed.

The latest emission figures in the Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, 1990-2012, were published today.

Northern Ireland’s 2012 greenhouse gas emissions are estimated at 21 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, indicating an increase of 2% compared to 2011.

The Executive has said that the 2012 figures include emissions from widespread forest wildfires that occurred during a spell of dry, windy weather. It also said global fuel prices have caused a shift from burning natural gas to coal in the energy supply sector.

The largest sources of emissions across the UK in 2012 were agriculture (30%), transport (20%), energy supply (18%) and residential (15%).

Greenhouse gas emissions in the UK as a whole have reduced by 27% since the base year. Scotland and England have the greatest percentage reductions, with 31% and 28% respectively, while Wales and Northern Ireland have lower reductions at 18% and 16% respectively.

Carbon dioxide accounted for 66.3% of all greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland in 2012. Northern Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions account for 3.7% of the total UK greenhouse gas emissions.

(IT/MH)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

07 June 2010
Poots Tackles NI's Greenhouse Gases
There's to be a new group to tackle greenhouse gas emissions for Northern Ireland. The Stormont Environment Minister Edwin Poots revealed that he is to chair the organisation and also issued a positive response to the NI Environment Committee's recent 'Inquiry into Climate Change Report'.
30 September 2024
NI Executive Approves Environmental Improvement Plan
The Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir has welcomed the Executive's approval of Northern Ireland's first Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).
07 June 2013
NI Gas Emissions Fall 5%
Northern Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by over 5% between 2010 and 2011, according to the latest figures.
25 September 2009
NI 'Greenhouse' Pollution Falls
Greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland have fallen by 13% since 1990, a new report has revealed. According to the latest figures in AEA Technology's, 'Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland', carbon dioxide emissions also decreased in that time by 9%.
16 February 2005
WWF urge NI to keep up with Kyoto strategy
WWF Northern Ireland today urged the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment (DETI) to put an effective long-term energy strategy in place to help deal with climate change.