Cold snap leads to increased emissions

Wednesday 8 February 2012

THE UK's greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2010, the first increase since 2003.

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Department of Energy and Climate Change estimates for 2010 showed greenhouse gas output rose by more than 3%, largely due to an increase in gas used to heat homes in cold weather at the beginning and the end of the year.

Emissions from the residential sector rose almost 15% from 2009.The rise was also driven in part by switching away from nuclear to coal and gas for generating electricity.Carbon emissions, which make up most of the UK's greenhouse gases, rose by almost 4% in 2010.The increase came after a sharp fall in emissions in 2009, of almost one-tenth, in the face of the economic downturn, with the result that 2010 emissions were still well below pre-recession levels.However, green groups said the figures were a wake-up call. Environmentalists called for greater strides in home energy efficiency.Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, said: "If the Government ever needed a wake-up call on greenhouse gas emissions here it is."It is alarming to see emissions from homes rising when people are struggling to pay bills."Louise Hutchins from Greenpeace warned that, instead of slashing emissions and sparking a "green jobs bonanza", the UK was seeing progress stalling.She said: "Sweden has higher energy costs and colder winters but their bills are lower because they have better insulated homes."

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Cold snap leads to increased emissions

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