Environmental accounts

How the environment contributes to the economy, the impact that the economy has on the environment, and how society responds to environmental issues. This page also hosts the development of natural capital accounts.

Spotlight

UK environmental taxes: 2022

What's in the bulletin?

Environmental taxes, using an internationally agreed framework, raised £47.4 billion in the UK in 2022, up 6.9% from £44.3 billion in 2021.
Environmental tax revenue was 1.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022, the lowest level since 1997 having been broadly stable through this period.
Environmental taxes provided 5.3% of all UK tax and social contribution revenue in 2022, down from 5.6% in 2021 and the lowest share since 1997.

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Greenhouse gas emissions, UK: provisional estimates, 2022

What's in the bulletin?

UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a residence basis increased by 2% between 2021 and 2022 (provisional), having increased 3% in 2021 following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which particularly affected 2020. 
UK emissions stood at 512 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e) in 2022 (provisional), 7% below the pre-coronavirus pandemic level of 550 Mt CO2e in 2019.
The sector with the largest increase of Mt CO2e was transport, up 34% in 2022 compared with 2021, following a fall of 28% in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and a 9% decrease in 2021.

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UK Environmental Accounts

Measuring the contribution of the environment to the economy, impact of economic activity on the environment, and response to environmental issues.

Datasets related to Environmental accounts

Environmental Protection Expenditure Survey estimates: by industry and activity

Estimates for the UK's environmental protection expenditure by industry and activity, 2015 to 2021.
Environmental taxes

Data on the UK government's revenue from environmental taxes (including energy, transport and pollution or resource taxes), 1997 to 2022 (where available).
Low carbon and renewable energy economy estimates

This release includes annual estimates of low carbon and renewable energy economy activity in the UK and constituent countries: turnover, employment, exports, imports, acquisitions, disposals and number of businesses.
Experimental estimates of quarterly greenhouse gas emissions

Experimental estimates of UK quarterly greenhouse gas emissions on a residence basis using Chow-Lin regression based temporal disaggregation method.
Habitat condition, natural capital, UK – supplementary information

Suitable condition indicators for an understanding of the relationship between the ecosystem condition and the ecosystem services they deliver.
Atmospheric emissions: greenhouse gases by industry and gas

The emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydro-fluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride, nitrogen trifluoride and total greenhouse gas emissions, by industry (SIC 2007 group – around 130 categories), UK, 1990 to 2021 and (provisional) 2022

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Publications related to Environmental accounts

Statistical bulletins

Environmental Protection Expenditure Survey, UK: 2021

Estimates of environmental protection expenditure by UK industries, based on the Environmental Protection Expenditure Survey.
Greenhouse gas emissions, UK: provisional estimates, 2022

Measuring the air emissions generated by UK economic activities.
UK environmental taxes: 2022

The value and composition of UK environmental taxes between 1997 and 2022, by type of tax and economic activity, with other European country comparisons.
Low carbon and renewable energy economy, UK: 2021

Estimates of the size of the UK's Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE), including turnover and employment.
Habitat extent and condition, natural capital, UK: 2022

The size of area and condition indicators for eight natural UK habitats, including woodland, enclosed farmland, semi-natural grasslands and coastal margins. Uses the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting framework for Ecosystem Accounting. Experimental estimates.
Tourism and outdoor leisure accounts, natural capital, UK: 2021

In this bulletin we put into practice new methods for estimating the value of tourism and outdoor leisure in the UK.

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Articles

Developing quarterly greenhouse gas emissions accounts, UK

Update on work to develop a measure of quarterly UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a residency basis, and future development and publication plans.
Greenhouse gas emissions and other environment measures, UK and European countries

How the UK ranks with EU14 countries on greenhouse gas emissions, specifically CO2 and fossil fuel extraction and import, and environmental tax revenue collected in the UK compared with EU14 nations.
Over half of younger drivers likely to switch to electric in next decade

With the sale of vehicles reliant on fossil fuels set to end by 2030, what barriers exist for drivers to make the switch, and is the necessary infrastructure in place?
Carbon dioxide emissions and woodland coverage where you live

The levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and woodland coverage vary across the UK. Our interactive maps let you see how your area looks, and how it compares with other areas.
COVID-19 restrictions cut household emissions

With more people staying at home last year, household greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 10%. Could the shift to home working see lower emissions in the longer term?
Energy efficiency of housing in England and Wales

Insights on the energy efficiency, carbon dioxide emissions and central heating main fuel type for new and existing homes by property type, tenure, and property age.