Carbon dioxide output in UK continues to fall

Some constituents have written to me asking about CO2 levels in the UK. The latest figures show that the UK since 1990 has cut carbon emissions more rapidly than any other major economy. They are now estimated to be 39% below 1990 levels. The biggest falls have come in power generation, through the ending of coal burning stations.

Reductions in homes has been slower so homes now account for about as much CO2 output as power stations. All those keen to see more progress can help by improving home insulation, improving boiler efficiency , being careful with power use or switching to non carbon generating methods of home heating. I am pressing for the government to remove VAT on green products to make this more affordable.

 

5 Comments

  1. Kevin Lohse
    March 7, 2019

    Dear Sir John. I’m surprised you give the alarmist CO2 scare houseroom. What we know about CO2 is that over the last 20 years the planet has greened up due to the increase of atmospheric CO2 but there is no scientific evidence to demonstrate CAGW. The effects of CO2 has been to increase availability of agricultural land and crop yields. Any gentle warning is actually beneficial to humanity. A trained graduate engineer like yourself only needs to spend an afternoon applying the laws of thermodynamics to Climate science to find the holes in the theory. The demonisation of a trace gas essential to life is part of the biggest scam ever played on mankind, and any thinking person should oppose it.

    1. Lifelogic
      March 8, 2019

      Indeed you are exactly right. No sensible (and honest & not on the make) scientists, engineers or physicists take the run away climate catastrophe theory seriously – it is politics and religion not science. The idea that you can predict the climate in 100 year without even knowing most of the inputs such as the suns output, the energy systems & population for the next 100 years, the scientific developments, population and volcanic activity for 100 years …… Even if you knew these you could not predict it. Predicting the lotterballs (given their starting positions) is a far, far simpler problem. Lets see them do that first!

      But JR is not a graduate engineer is he? Or has he done an OU degree on the quiet?

      The replacement of coal with imported biofuels at Drax and the likes is total insanity. What is the difference between burning old wood (coal) or new wood (biofuels). They both produce about the same volume of CO2 per KW. In fact coal is slightly better in this respect (when all factors are fully accounted for). Taxpayer subsidies for intermittent wind and PV before they are able to compete is also absurd. Rolling out premature duff uncompetitive technology all over the place (only there due to large subsidies and market rigging) is idiotic.

  2. 'None of the above'.
    March 7, 2019

    I agree with all your suggestions. I would also advise energy consumers to examine the mix of energy producing resources used by Provider. Some use higher proportions of coal burning that others while others use more renewable sources than others.

  3. Lifelogic
    March 8, 2019

    Much talk about the recent temperature record for February of 21.2°C set at Kew last month. Even ignoring the urban heat effects of more concrete and more centrally heated cities there is no real significant trend (Met office figures, measurements from 1868 onwards.) Lots of the monthly peak records were before most of the CO2 increases as seen below. Anyway a little hotter is better on average.

    January 18.3 (1958/1971/2003)
    March 25.6 (1968)
    April 29.4 (1949)
    May 32.8 (1922/1944)
    June 35.6 (1957/1976)
    July 36.7 (2015)
    August 38.5 (2003)
    September 35.6 (2006)
    October 29.9 (2011)
    November 22.4 (2015)
    December 18.3 (1948)

  4. Lifelogic
    March 8, 2019

    If people really do want to reduce their C02 output then just wear thermal underwear and another jumper, turn your central heating off (or heat just one room), become a vegetarian, don’t go on holiday or travel much and get an electric blanket!

    That is the cheapest and best way. Not that the Prince Charles and celeb types take this approach very often!

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