The UK's greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.4% in 2025, reaching their lowest level in over 150 years, according to Carbon Brief analysis. This significant reduction is attributed to a combination of factors, including a 34-year low in gas use, a 400-year low in coal use, and a slowdown in the steel industry. The UK's emissions are now 54% below 1990 levels, while its GDP has nearly doubled. The 2.4% fall in emissions is slightly more than half of the 15MtCO2e cut needed each year until 2050 to meet the UK's legally binding net-zero target. The analysis highlights the progress made in reducing emissions, but also underscores the need for continued efforts to meet future climate goals. The UK's emissions have fallen in 27 out of 36 years since 1990, with territorial emissions decreasing despite relatively stable CO2 embedded in imports. The country's emissions are now below the level seen during the 1926 general strike, indicating sustained lows not seen since Victorian times. The key factors driving down UK emissions in 2025 were the lowest levels of coal and gas use since 1600 and 1992, respectively. Gas use fell due to lower demand from building heat and industry, while coal use dropped due to the end of coal power and a slowdown in the steel industry. The UK saw record generation from renewable sources, particularly wind and solar, but a slight increase in gas-fired power output. Oil use fell by 0.9%, helped by the rise of electric vehicles (EVs). The UK's emissions continue to decouple from economic growth, with GDP nearly doubling while emissions fall. The transport sector remains the largest source of emissions, but the rise of EVs is expected to make it the largest source of emissions cuts from now until 2040. Despite progress, the UK has a long way to go to meet its climate goals, including the 2050 net-zero target and the yet-to-be-legislated seventh 'carbon budget' covering 2038-2042. The analysis is based on preliminary government estimates of energy use by fuel and takes into account various uncertainties, including the provisional nature of energy use data and the methodology used for emissions estimates.
