The latest official figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change show that Britain saw the largest increase in greenhouse gases for two decades in 2010.
The figures show a rise in the six major greenhouse gases last year of 2.8% to 582 million tonnes. The increase was blamed on an economic recovery, which enabled businesses, factories and households to pay for more power. However, green groups pointed out that the rise in carbon dioxide was much sharper than the limited growth in the economy.
Carbon dioxide increased by nearly 4% to 492 million tonnes, representing the second largest rise since 1990. Most of the rise was blamed on residential gas use as people turned on the heating following the coldest start to the year for decades. Further, more electricity was generated from coal and gas-fired power stations, due to technical problems at some nuclear power stations.
Doug Parr, the chief scientist for Greenpeace, said emissions should still be falling despite the cold start and economic growth and that, "A struggling economy and rising carbon emissions are exactly the conditions that require significant levels of green investment that can boost the economy, create jobs, but simultaneously cut pollution. That's why it's worrying that, in the last 12 months, clean energy investment here has fallen by 70%."
Overall, the greenhouse gases for the UK have fallen by 25.6% on 1990 levels, double the level required to meet the country's commitment to cut emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. In addition, emissions from heating homes have increased by 8% in the past two decades, while transport emissions have also increased slightly. Andy Atkins, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, commented that emissions are not falling fast enough. He said, "Three-quarters of the public want the Government to prioritise investments into energy saving and renewable power. It is time to end the UK's dirty and dangerous addiction to old energy and invest in a brighter, cleaner future."
Chris Huhne, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said the key to cutting greenhouse gases is more efficient homes. "Britain's blighted by inefficient and draughty homes, which is why we want to help people waste less energy through the Green Deal and install new cleaner technologies to heat their homes. As we come out of recession the Coalition's determined to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. That's why we are pushing on all fronts to turn around Britain's woeful record on renewables."
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