Environment > CO2 Emissions: Group totals

Greenhouse gas emissions in the United Kingdom rose 1.5 percent from the previous year’s level in 2004 and are now higher than they have been since Tony Blair’s Labour government came to power in 1997. The data suggest U.K. may miss its emission target as set by the Kyoto Protocol.<p>Under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol, the U.K. must limit annual greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5 percent below 1990 levels for the 2008-2012 period. Emissions were 14.4 percent below in 2002, and 13.4 percent below in 2003, but just 12.6 percent below in 2004. <p>The government has previously admitted that the U.K. will not meet the target in the Labour party’s 1997 election platform of reducing CO2 emissions 20% from 1990 levels by 2010. The latest figures show the U.K.’s CO2 emissions in 2004 were just 4.2% below 1990 levels.