Embodied carbon outweighs UK cuts, researchers say

19th March 2015


Related Topics

Related tags

  • Mitigation ,
  • Reporting ,
  • Products

Author

Nadia Bidzinska

Carbon emissions produced in the manufacture of goods imported to the UK are offsetting domestic reductions in CO2, according to the University of Leeds.

The academics report that UK carbon emissions fell by 194 million tonnes between 1990 and 2012, but that 280 million tonnes were created overseas during the manufacture of goods imported into the country during that period.

If the UK took responsibility for its global emissions, it would need to achieve its 80% cut in CO2 by 2040, 10 years earlier than planned, the researchers conclude.

The say methods to accurately measure consumption-based emissions need to be introduced so that a complete picture can be presented of changes in regional and national emissions.

However, policy, politics and governance issues associated with consumption-based emissions are in their infancy, they acknowledge.

Government data on the UK's carbon footprint, published today, reveals that the proportion of greenhouse gases (GHGs) coming from the manufacture of imported goods falling from its peak in 2007.

However, the proportion of GHGs embedded in goods imported into the UK in 2012 was slightly higher than in 1997 - 45% compared with 41%. The government says this due to more embedded emissions in imports from China, which offset lower levels in emissions from goods imported from both the EU and the rest of the world.

Lord Deben, chair of the Committee on Climate Change, said that it was important to measure emissions on the basis of domestic production to avoid double counting.

Subscribe

Subscribe to IEMA's newsletters to receive timely articles, expert opinions, event announcements, and much more, directly in your inbox.


Transform articles

Facing the climate emergency challenge in local government

It’s well recognised that the public sector has the opportunity to work towards a national net-zero landscape that goes well beyond improving on its own performance; it can also influence through procurement and can direct through policy.

19th March 2024

Read more

The UK government’s carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) strategy is based on optimistic techno-economic assumptions that are now outdated, Carbon Tracker has warned.

13th March 2024

Read more

The UK’s new biodiversity net gain (BNG) requirements could create 15,000 hectares of woodlands, heath, grasslands, and wetlands and absorb 650,000 tonnes of carbon each year.

13th March 2024

Read more

The UK government’s latest Public Attitudes Tracker has found broad support for efforts to tackle climate change, although there are significant concerns that bills will rise.

13th March 2024

Read more

Multinational corporations are undermining their net-zero commitments with excessive air travel and no plans to reduce ‘the low hanging fruit’ of carbon footprints, a study by Transport & Environment has found.

13th March 2024

Read more

The UK government’s climate adaptation plans are ‘inadequate’ and falling ‘far short’ of what is required, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has warned today.

13th March 2024

Read more

Large businesses across the world are avoiding climate action due to fear they will be called out for getting their work wrong, according to a new Carbon Trust report.

29th February 2024

Read more

A thought-provoking discussion on how storytelling can change the world took place in Central London last night, alongside an exclusive sneak preview of an upcoming IEMA film series.

29th February 2024

Read more

Media enquires

Looking for an expert to speak at an event or comment on an item in the news?

Find an expert

IEMA Cookie Notice

Clicking the ‘Accept all’ button means you are accepting analytics and third-party cookies. Our website uses necessary cookies which are required in order to make our website work. In addition to these, we use analytics and third-party cookies to optimise site functionality and give you the best possible experience. To control which cookies are set, click ‘Settings’. To learn more about cookies, how we use them on our website and how to change your cookie settings please view our cookie policy.

Manage cookie settings

Our use of cookies

You can learn more detailed information in our cookie policy.

Some cookies are essential, but non-essential cookies help us to improve the experience on our site by providing insights into how the site is being used. To maintain privacy management, this relies on cookie identifiers. Resetting or deleting your browser cookies will reset these preferences.

Essential cookies

These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website.

Analytics cookies

These cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors to our website and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works.

Advertising cookies

These cookies allow us to tailor advertising to you based on your interests. If you do not accept these cookies, you will still see adverts, but these will be more generic.

Save and close