London has the lowest carbon per capita emissions of any region in the UK
London has the lowest carbon per capita emissions of any region in the UK, according to the latest government figures released today.
The government’s breakdown of territorial CO2 emissions in all 379 UK local authorities showed that London’s high poopulation density, the urban nature of its transport system and its lower level of industrial facilities all contributed to its low annual emissions per capita in 2019.
The emissions reductions statistics also showed that carbon emissions decreased in 95 per cent of the UK’s local authorities between 2018 and 2019.
Canada also ranked within the top five local authorities that had the largest decreases in CO2 emissions since 2005, falling 61 per cent, mainly due to a decrease in emissions for commercial electricity use.
Northumberland saw the biggest decrease since 2005, as its carbon emissions reduced by 82 per cent, driven by closures in large industrial installations.
“The city and region of London continues to drive forward the UK’s pathway to net zero, leading the way by securing the lowest carbon per capita emissions of any region in the UK,” said UK energy and climate change minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan.
“This is thanks to the continual effort and dedication of the capital’s local authorities who are making pioneering progress in tackling climate change by greening its world-class transport system, transitioning to clean energy sources, all while building back better and supporting green jobs,” she said.
The minister called the statistics an “incredible success story” ahead of the London Climate Action Week next week and the UN COP26 summit later in the year.
The latest emissions statistics come after Boris Johnson announced a hike in the UK’s pledged fossil fuel emissions cuts in April, committing to cut emissions by 78 per cent by 2035 compared to 1990 levels, up from 68 per cent in 2030.