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Revised CO₂ targets as part of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) "Basket"

This section shows how dominant CO₂ is as part of all UK Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. It makes up 85% of our current emissions. Whilst the legally binding reduction targets relate to a number of different gasses, CO₂ will still need to be cut by at least 74% by 2050. Progress on cutting other gases, like methane and nitrous oxide, has been good so far and largely due to these cuts we have already met our Kyoto Protocol targets.

The Kyoto Protocol identified a 'basket' of six GHGs considered to be the most potent and prolific. The following graph shows how these are split in UK emissions.

• Notice that all GHGs are already converted into "CO₂ equivalent" (e.g. methane is 21 times more potent than CO₂ so the actual emissions of 5 million tonnes in 1990 is equivalent to 105 million tonnes CO₂).
• Even taking these factors into account, you can see that CO₂ is by far the biggest contributor to our emissions. In 2007 it accounted for 85% of our greenhouse gas emissions.
• Notice that we have already met our Kyoto GHG targets (12.5% cut from 1990 level of 773 Mt CO₂-eq). In fact by 2007, we have cut GHG emissions by over 18% . Provisional figures for 2008 bring this up to a 19% cut (to 624 Mt CO₂-eq).
• However, most of this has been the result of cutting methane and nitrous oxide, which have been cut by 50%, compared to the 8.5% cut in CO₂.

How does this effect UK CO₂ targets?

As stated above, the domestic and international emission targets are for a basket of GHGs. If we reduced the other gases down to zero emissions, we would be allowed to emit more CO₂. However, as you can see from the following this wont make a big difference to future CO₂ targets.

• In the 1990 baseline year, CO₂ accounted for 76.4% (CO₂-equivalent) of total UK GHG emissions.
• The following graph shows the range in the "Agreed cut" CO₂ reduction trend. The plume shows the range in the CO₂ target allowed if other GHGs are reduced to zero by 2080.
• Notice that the plume does not spread far above the "Agreed cut" line. In 2050 the top of plume is 155 Mt CO₂/yr, which is equivalent to a 74% cut in CO₂.