A new analysis by Carbon Brief reveals that the United Kingdom’s carbon emissions fell to 409 million tons of CO₂ equivalent (MtCO₂e) in 2024, marking a 3.6% decline from the previous year. This is the lowest level recorded since 1872, highlighting the country’s continued shift toward cleaner energy.
One of the biggest drivers of this decline was a historic drop in coal consumption, which fell by 54% in 2024, reaching its lowest level since 1666. The UK used just 2.1 million tons of coal, a dramatic shift driven by the closure of the last coal-fired power plant in Nottinghamshire and the Port Talbot steelworks in Wales, which housed one of the UK’s last operational blast furnaces.
Coal and Oil Demand Continue to Decline
The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions have now fallen in 26 of the past 35 years, with annual declines observed every year for the past two decades except for brief rebounds following the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The reduction in coal use played a crucial role in the emissions drop. About one-third of the overall decline in coal demand was due to lower usage at power stations, while two-thirds came from heavy industry moving away from coal as an energy source.
Additionally, oil demand fell by 1.4%, even with increased road traffic. This was largely due to the surge in electric vehicles (EVs), with 1.4 million EVs, 76,000 electric vans, and 800,000 plug-in hybrids on UK roads in 2024. This 40% increase in EV adoption played a major role in reducing oil-related emissions.
UK Electricity is the Cleanest It’s Ever Been
Another factor contributing to the drop in emissions was the UK’s shift toward cleaner electricity generation. In 2024, electricity production was the cleanest in the country’s history, aided by the growth of renewable energy sources and the phasing out of fossil fuel power plants.
The analysis also highlights misleading claims about the EV market in some right-leaning UK newspapers, which have described the sector as “stalling” or “going into reverse.” However, data shows that EV numbers grew by 39% in just one year, while plug-in hybrids increased by 28%, signaling a continued shift toward low-emission transportation.
UK Needs Faster Emissions Cuts to Meet Climate Goals
Despite the progress, Carbon Brief warns that the UK is not reducing emissions quickly enough to meet its 2035 and 2050 climate targets.
In 2024, emissions fell by 14 million tons of CO₂ equivalent (MtCO₂e), but to stay on track for net-zero emissions by 2050, the UK will need to accelerate its annual emissions cuts beyond this rate. According to the Climate Change Committee, emissions reductions can slow down in the future but must be faster in the short- to medium-term to meet both national and international climate pledges.
