Highlights
UK Environmental Accounts: 2018
What's in the bulletin?
- The continued switch from coal to natural gas by the energy supply and manufacturing sectors resulted in a fall in overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2016, the continuation of a long-term trend.
- In 2016, households were the biggest emitter of GHGs, accounting for one-quarter of total UK GHG emissions.
- In 2016, the UK consumed 570 million tonnes of material, still below pre-2008 levels.
UK natural capital: ecosystem accounts for urban areas
What's in the bulletin?
- - On average, almost a third of urban area in Great Britain consists of natural land and green space.
- - There are over 62,000 urban green space sites in Great Britain adapted for a specific function e.g. public gardens and parks.
- - This urban natural land and green space provides society with many services including protecting urban properties from noise pollution and cooling cities by over half a degree Celsius.
How green is your street?
Have you ever wondered how green your street is compared with your neighbourhood, or your city? The Data Science Campus at Office for National Statistics is experimenting with a new way of analysing how green cities are.
Datasets related to Environmental accounts
-
Energy: total consumption
Annual data on the UK's direct and reallocated energy consumption by industry, from 1990 to 2016.
-
Atmospheric emissions: greenhouse gases
Annual data on the emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and total greenhouse gas emissions. By UK economic sector and gas from 1990 to 2016.
-
Low carbon and renewable energy economy final estimates
Final annual estimates of low carbon and renewable energy economy direct activity in the UK and constituent countries by turnover, businesses, employees, exports and imports, acquisitions and disposals.
-
Energy: consumption from renewable and waste sources
Annual data on the UK's energy consumption from renewable and waste sources, by source and industry, from 1990 to 2016.
-
Oil and gas: reserves and resources
Annual estimates of the UK's remaining recoverable oil and gas reserves and resources.
Publications related to Environmental accounts
Statistical bulletins
-
UK Environmental Accounts: 2018
Measuring the contribution of the environment to the economy, the impact of economic activity on the environment, and society's response to environmental issues. Satellite accounts to the main UK National Accounts.
-
UK natural capital: ecosystem accounts for urban areas
Initial natural capital accounts containing information about green space in urban areas.
-
UK Environmental Accounts: 2018
Measuring the contribution of the environment to the economy, the impact of economic activity on the environment, and society's response to environmental issues. Satellite accounts to the main UK National Accounts.
Articles
-
Environmental taxes
An examination of the size and composition of environmental taxes between 1993 and 2014. Including an analysis by type of environmental tax, a consideration of who pays the taxes and a comparison with other European countries. Main findings show that environmental taxes raised £44.6 billion in the UK in 2014, providing 7.5% of all revenue from taxes and social contributions
-
Greenhouse gas emissions
Estimates of greenhouse gas emissions in 2013, for which UK residents and UK-based businesses are directly responsible (whether in the UK or overseas). These estimates have been produced on a consistent basis with the UK's national accounts and provide an important indicator for the environmental pressure caused by the UK's economic activities. Main findings show that greenhouse gas emissions in 2013 were estimated to be 2% lower than in 2012, and 23.6% lower than in 1990.
-
UK Natural Capital Freshwater Ecosystem Assets and Services Accounts
This paper is a first attempt by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to develop initial experimental statistics on UK freshwater ecosystem assets and ecosystem services. Selecting a number of indicators, this paper shows the condition of UK freshwaters between 2008 and 2012. On an experimental basis, ONS also estimates that the monetary value of UK freshwaters was £37 billion in 2012, 26% higher than in 2008. This is mainly due to an increase in the monetary value of UK open waters. It is important to emphasise this monetary value is based on a limited number of ecosystem services that are covered by these accounts. The methodology to develop these indicators and monetary estimates remains under development and the estimates reported should be considered experimental. Further work will be undertaken to develop and improve them.
-
UK Natural Capital Land Cover in the UK
We take a look at land cover ecosystem accounts for the United Kingdom (UK). The land cover accounts based on data from the Countryside Survey show that the land cover changed significantly in the UK between 1998 and 2007.
Methodology related to Environmental accounts
Looking for local statistics?
A handy guide to let you know where to find local statistics.