14 August 2006
folder [featCategs]
DEFRA revises greenhouse figures
[firstParagraph]
DEFRA'S revision of its 1990-2004 methane emission estimates for the UK has had a small effect on the overall UK greenhouse gas emission estimates.
This new revision, which takes account of new factors in measuring methane emissions from landfill sites, means that the UK basket of six greenhouse gases in 2004 is now estimated to have been 15.1% below the base year, compared with the previous estimate of 14.6%.
To meet its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol, the UK has agreed to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% relative to the base year over the period 2008-2012.
HFC emissions for 2004 were 2.42 million tonnes (carbon equivalent) under the new revisions.
In a further revision, emission estimates for Gibraltar have also been incorporated into the UK greenhouse gas emissions total. These amount to around 50,000 tonnes (carbon equivalent) per year, 0.02% or less of the UK total.