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.

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.
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
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.
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.
Methodology related to Environmental accounts
- Environmental accounts on environmental taxes QMI
- Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Economy (LCREE) Survey QMI
- Habitat extent and condition methodology, natural capital, UK: 2022
- UK natural capital accounts: Tourism and recreation method changes
- Natural Capital
- Principles of Natural Capital Accounting
- UK natural capital accounts: Tourism - methodology
- The challenges of defining a "green job"
Get facts and figures for an area
Includes population, identity, housing, people in or out of work, education and health.