UK greenhouse gas emissions rise 3% in 2010

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published data on Tuesday 7 February showing UK emissions increased 3.1% during 2010. UK greenhouse gas emissions covered by the Kyoto Protocol saw and compared to 2009 and topped 590mn tCO2e. The increase was driven by rising gas use in the residential sector owing to colder weather, which prompted emissions to climb 15.1%. The energy supply sector was also partly responsible for the increase; energy supply emissions rose 2.8% as generators switched from nuclear power to coal and gas for electricity generation. Businesses emitted at the same rate during 2009 and 2010 at 89mn tCO2, while emissions from industrial process rose slightly from 10.2mn tCO2e to 10.9mn tCO2e.
The new energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey commented that "emissions were up in 2010 because of the exceptionally cold weather and greater use of fossil fuels." But he claimed that one year will not "knock the UK off meeting its long-term emission reduction targets". Instead he said the results serve to "underline the importance of the coalition's policies" for insulating homes and businesses to cut bills and emissions and moving to greener alternative forms of energy.
DECC--greenhouse gas figures     DECC--Ed Davey's statement