What is United Kingdom's pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C?

Current Situation

Emissions

The UK’s GHG emissions fell to 373 MtCO2e in 2024, a 3% decline on 2023 levels (including LULUCF).1 Emissions have been declining since 1990 and fell 53% between 1990–2024.2 

The largest emitter was the transport sector, which was responsible for 29% of UK emissions in 2024. This was followed by buildings at 21% and the industrial sector at 13% (21% when fossil fuel production is accounted for). The power sector was responsible for only 10% of UK emissions in 2023, down from a high of 27% in 2012.3

The majority (78%) of UK emissions come from CO2, with the remainder coming from methane, nitrous oxide and F-gases. Methane represented 15% of the UK’s emissions in 2024, with agriculture and waste as the main sources of these emissions. 4

United Kingdom's 2024 GHG emissions

including LULUCF MtCO₂e/yr

When graphs include LULUCF, the center value includes LULUCF if the sector is a net source of emissions and excludes it when the sector is a net sink of emissions. Individual sector rounding may lead to small inconsistencies in total sum.

Energy

Buildings and transport accounted for 39% and 41% of the UK’s final energy demand in 2024, while industry was responsible for 15%.5 Final energy demand has fallen 23% over 2000–2024, largely due to efficiency improvements in buildings and industry.6

The UK’s energy transition so far has predominantly involved cleaning up the power sector, where renewables now provide over 50% of generation, up from only 7% in 2010.7 This helped the UK phase out coal-fired generation in 20248 and is increasingly pushing out fossil gas from the electricity mix. Gas-fired generation in 2024 was over 50% lower than the peak reached in 20109

However, the rate of electrification in end use sectors has stagnated – plateauing at around 21% since the 2010s.10 The rest of the UK’s final energy demand is met by fossil gas (in buildings and industry), and oil (in transport, and as a feedstock in industry). The UK gets around 30% of its energy demand from gas, and 40% from oil, with the last 5% provided by biomass and district heating.11

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