UK: 3.6% reduction in emissions in 2024, coal usage at historic low

UK greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 3.6% in 2024, marking a slowdown in the pace of reduction. The end of coal usage in electricity production and the rise in electric vehicles contributed to this trend.

Share:

Subscribe for unlimited access to all the latest energy sector news.

Over 150 multisector articles and analyses every week.

For less than €3/week*

*For an annual commitment

*Engagement annuel à seulement 99 € (au lieu de 149 €), offre valable jusqu'au 30/07/2025 minuit.

The UK recorded a 3.6% reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, according to an analysis published by Carbon Brief. This decrease is largely attributed to the closure, in September, of the country’s last coal power plant, a first for a G7 member. In November, the government also banned the opening of new coal mines, effectively ending the exploitation of this resource within the UK.

Historic Decline in Coal Usage

Coal use in the UK has reached its lowest level since 1666, a century before the Industrial Revolution. This trend was further reinforced by the shutdown of one of the country’s last blast furnaces, located at the Port Talbot steelworks in Wales. The closure of this facility marked a significant step in reducing industrial emissions, although the steel sector remains a significant contributor to COâ‚‚ emissions.

Slower Pace of Emissions Reduction

Despite this decrease, the pace of emissions reduction slowed compared to 2023, when emissions had dropped by 5.1%. This trend is also observed in France and Germany, where reductions in 2024 have been less pronounced than in the previous year. In contrast, China saw a slight increase in its emissions, while the United States reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by only 0.2%, according to the Rhodium Group research centre.

Transforming Transport and Energy

The UK’s emissions decline in 2024 was also influenced by a sharp increase in the number of electric vehicles on the road, up nearly 40% for the year. This rapid adoption of electric technologies, combined with a record level of decarbonised electricity generation, has helped mitigate reliance on fossil fuels. Offshore wind energy plays a key role in the country’s energy mix, although the UK still lags behind Scandinavian countries, which are predominantly powered by hydropower and wind energy.

Aspiring Reduction Targets

With a total emissions reduction of 54% compared to 1990 levels, the UK is among the countries that have reduced their carbon footprint the most in recent decades. However, to achieve its target of reducing emissions by at least 81% by 2035, the country will need to maintain a steady decarbonisation trajectory, according to Carbon Brief.

U.S. electricity consumption reached unprecedented levels in the last week of July, driven by a heatwave and the growth of industrial activity.
The New York Power Authority targets nearly 7GW of capacity with a plan featuring 20 renewable projects and 156 storage initiatives, marking a new phase for public investment in the State.
French Guiana plans to achieve a fully decarbonised power mix by 2027, driven by the construction of a biomass plant and expansion of renewable energy on its territory.
The progress of national targets for renewable energy remains marginal, with only a 2% increase since COP28, threatening the achievement of the tripling of capacity by 2030 and impacting energy security.
A Department of Energy report states that US actions on greenhouse gases would have a limited global impact, while highlighting a gap between perceptions and the economic realities of global warming.
Investments in renewable energy across the Middle East and North Africa are expected to reach USD59.9 bn by 2030, fuelled by national strategies, the rise of solar, green hydrogen, and new regional industrial projects.
Global electricity demand is projected to grow steadily through 2026, driven by industrial expansion, data centres, electric mobility and air conditioning, with increasing contributions from renewables, natural gas and nuclear power.
Kenya registers a historic record in electricity consumption, driven by industrial growth and a strong contribution from geothermal and hydropower plants operated by Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC.
Final energy consumption in the European industrial sector dropped by 5% in 2023, reaching a level not seen in three decades, with renewables taking a growing role in certain key segments.
Réseau de transport d’électricité is planning a long-term modernisation of its infrastructure. A national public debate will begin on September 4 to address implementation methods, challenges and conditions.
The Spanish Parliament has rejected a package of reforms aimed at preventing another major power outage, plunging the national energy sector into uncertainty and revealing the fragility of the government's majority.
The U.S. government has supported Argentina’s request for a temporary suspension of an order to hand over its stake in YPF, a 16.1 billion USD judgment aimed at satisfying creditors.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency extends compliance deadlines for coal-fired power plant operators regarding groundwater monitoring and the closure of waste ponds.
Eskom aims to accelerate its energy transition through a new dedicated unit, despite a USD22.03bn debt and tariff uncertainties slowing investment.
Several major U.S. corporations announce investments totaling nearly USD 90 billion to strengthen energy infrastructure in Pennsylvania, aimed at powering data centers vital to the rapid growth of the artificial intelligence sector.
Nearly USD92bn will be invested by major American and international groups in new data centres and energy infrastructure, responding to the surge in electricity demand linked to the rise of artificial intelligence.
Nouakchott has endured lengthy power interruptions for several weeks, highlighting the financial and technical limits of the Mauritanian Electricity Company as Mauritania aims to widen access and green its mix by 2030.
Between 2015 and 2024, four multilateral climate funds committed nearly eight bn USD to clean energy, attracting private capital through concessional terms while Africa and Asia absorbed more than half of the volume.
The Global Energy Policies Hub shows that strategic reserves, gas obligations, cybersecurity and critical-mineral policies are expanding rapidly, lifting oil coverage to 98 % of world imports.
According to a report by Ember, the Chinese government’s appliance trade-in campaign could double residential air-conditioner efficiency gains in 2025 and trim up to USD943mn from household electricity spending this year.
Consent Preferences