State of the South West 2008

Climate Change

5.47 According to Defra, transport accounted for about 24% of UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2002, this is almost the same as the domestic sector on an end user basis. Transport and the domestic sector emissions are the second largest sources of UK greenhouse gas; with the business sector at about 28 per cent. Carbon dioxide is the most significant greenhouse gas emitted, accounting for about 80% of emissions from the transport sector in 2002 (Defra 2007).

5.48 In the regions, the highest CO₂ emissions were found in the South East, accounting for 13% (69,389 kt) of the UK total in 2004. This was followed by the North West with 11% (61,151 kt). The South West had the 3rd lowest CO₂ emissions of the English regions with 8% (43,671 kt). Of the 450,303 kt of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere in England during 2004, 28% were from domestic sources, 43% from industrial & commercial sources, 28% from road transport and under 1% from land use change. The South West accounts for 10% of the total for England road transport emissions.