Good News : UK Carbon levels lowest

I am glad to share with all of you that a collapse in the use of coal has driven UK carbon emissions down to levels barely seen since the Victorian era. The UK's carbon dioxide emissions have fallen to their lowest level since the 19th century as coal use continues to plummet.

Coal formed the backbone of the industrial revolution and was the fuel that powered Britain into the 21st century. But its time to begin to say farewell.

Our energy is becoming cleaner and greener, with wind, solar and other renewables generating more of our electricity than ever before. We in the UK are celebrating this news as it shows that our future can be fossil fuel-free.

Assessment, Statistics and Results

Coal use fell by a record 52% in 2016 on the previous year in the face of cheap gas, higher domestic carbon prices, renewables and other factors. Emissions of carbon dioxide from coal fell 50% in 2016 as use of the fossil fuel dropped by 52%, contributing to an overall drop in carbon output of 5.8% last year compared with 2015.

A according to the Carbon Brief website, which reports on climate science and energy policy, carbon emissions in 2016 were about 381m tonnes, putting the UK's carbon pollution at its lowest level – apart from during coal mining disputes in the 1920s – since 1894.

Carbon emissions in 2016 are about 36% below the reference year of 1990, against which legal targets to cut climate pollution are measured.

The assessment reveals that coal use has fallen by 74% in just a decade and is now 12 times below the peak of 221 millions of tonnes (Mt) burnt in 1956.

While emissions from coal fell in 2016, carbon output from gas rose 12.5% because of increased use of the fuel to generate electricity – although use of gas remains well below highs seen in the 2000s.

Emissions from oil also increased slightly, by 1.6%, as low oil prices and economic growth lead to more miles being driven in the UK, the assessment by Carbon Brief found.

The above said results/statistics are based on analysis of government figures by the website Carbon Brief.

Main Reasons

UK coal demand is falling rapidly because of cheaper gas, a hike in carbon taxes on the highly polluting fuel, expansion of renewables, dropping demand for energy overall and the closure of Redcar steelworks in late 2015.

One of the main reasons for the drop in coal use is the carbon price floor. This carbon tax doubled in 2015 to GBP 18 per tonne of CO2.

Three coal-fired power stations closed in 2016 – Longannet, Fife, Ferrybridge C, West Yorkshire, and Rugeley, Staffordshire.

Gas use for home and business heating has been falling for a decade, mainly due to more insulation and efficient boilers, but the rate of progress has stalled.

Ditching dirty coal is benefiting the environment as gas and renewables increase their share in electricity generation. There has been an increase in the amount of renewables on the system, with a record 27% of the UK's power coming from sources such as wind power in the last quarter of 2015.

Power is now increasingly being generated from solar panels, from household arrays to large scale farms.

Carbon Budgets and targets

The Climate Change Act established a target for the UK to reduce its emissions by at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050.

Government Plans

The government has pledged that all the UK's coal-fired power stations will be closed by 2025.

In his budget on Wednesday (8th March), the Chancellor is expected to set out the future path for the tax. This could have wide-ranging implications for the planned phase out of coal and the cost of low-carbon power subsidies.

Sources:

The Guardian

BBC news

Committee on Climate Change.org.uk