UK confirms record single-year rise in greenhouse gas emissions in 2021

Michael Holder
clock • 3 min read
Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire | Credit: iStock
Image:

Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire | Credit: iStock

Official data confirms UK emissions rose five per cent in 2021, yet they were still lower than before the pandemic

The UK's territorial greenhouse gas emissions rose five per cent in 2021, after the easing of pandemic-driven restrictions led to an increase in emissions from road transport, power stations, and homes,...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Carbon Accounting

'Long-awaited clarity': GHG Protocol delivers new Land Sector and Removals Standard

'Long-awaited clarity': GHG Protocol delivers new Land Sector and Removals Standard

New standard to provide a globally recognised benchmark for measuring climate impacts from agriculture and the emerging carbon removals sector

James Murray
clock 02 February 2026 • 4 min read
'Carbon pawprint': Dogs' dinners can have greater climate impact than their owners

'Carbon pawprint': Dogs' dinners can have greater climate impact than their owners

Research estimates the production of ingredients used in UK dog food contributes around one per cent of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)

clock 08 January 2026 • 2 min read
New Register of Carbon Accountants aims to tackle 'cowboy' operators

New Register of Carbon Accountants aims to tackle 'cowboy' operators

New professional benchmark from ISEP is aiming to improve trust in carbon reporting across all sectors

clock 21 November 2025 • 4 min read