UK emissions have risen not fallen

The assumptions in the Kyoto Protocol used to calculate carbon emissions do not include emissions from air travel, shipping or goods imported into the UK for our consumption (so called embedded carbon) . Under the Kyoto agreement, according to the Government we have seen a 5% decrease in UK emissions since 1990.

However a new report from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) has recalculated UK emissions taking air, shipping and embedded carbon into account. When this is done emissions have risen by 18%.

This makes much more sense! The 5% cut was largely attributable to the switch from coal to gas in electricity generation. The 18% rise as measured by the SEI ties in neatly with our love of consumerism and cheap air travel.

Depressing OK, but at least now we can measures what the 80% cut in emissions required needs to be measured against.