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Environment · Europe & Central Asia · High income
United Kingdom: environment and emissions
CO₂ per person is 4.22 t (2024), 65th of 203 in the world and 32nd of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. GHG per person is 5.58 t (2024), 72nd of 203 in the world and 35th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. GHG emissions is 386.7 Mt (2024), 21st of 203 in the world and 4th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia.
CO₂ per person
United KingdomEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
GHG per person
United KingdomEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
15 indicators
Environment: United Kingdom in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Europe & Central Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per personCO₂ emissions per capita, tonnes | 4.22 t2024 | 65/203 | 32/49 | 9.37 t | 7.98 t | 4.79 t | −37%since 2014 | 6.62 t | 9.75 t | 4.69 t | |
| GHG per personGreenhouse gas emissions per person, t CO₂e | 5.58 t2024 | 72/203 | 35/49 | 12.19 t | 9.92 t | 6.32 t | −34%since 2014 | 8.65 t | 12.50 t | 6.36 t | |
| GHG emissionsTotal greenhouse gas emissions excl. land use, Mt CO₂e | 386.7 Mt2024 | 21/203 | 4/49 | 718.1 Mt | 622.7 Mt | 421.5 Mt | −29%since 2014 | 7,953.3 Mt | 17,426.5 Mt | 53,206.4 Mt | |
| CO₂ emissionsCO₂ emissions, total excl. land use, Mt | 292.4 Mt2024 | 20/203 | 5/49 | 552.0 Mt | 500.7 Mt | 319.7 Mt | −32%since 2014 | 6,082.4 Mt | 13,596.6 Mt | 39,632.7 Mt | |
| MethaneMethane emissions, Mt CO₂e | 58.9 Mt2024 | 33/203 | 6/49 | 120.0 Mt | 81.8 Mt | 62.7 Mt | −18%since 2014 | 1,278.5 Mt | 2,534.1 Mt | 9,536.5 Mt | |
| Renewable energyRenewable energy, % of final energy consumption | 12.2%2021 | 133/212 | 40/54 | 1.0% | 3.2% | 13.6% | +8.2 ppsince 2011 | 15.1% | 12.8% | 19.7% | |
| Renewable powerRenewable electricity, % of output | 40.2%2021 | 72/206 | 23/51 | 3.4% | 7.7% | 43.9% | +29.8 ppsince 2011 | 34.4% | 26.7% | 27.8% | |
| PM2.5 exposurePM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure, µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³2023 | 158/200 | 36/52 | 17.9 µg/m³ | 12.5 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | −24%since 2013 | 14.4 µg/m³ | 13.0 µg/m³ | 32.9 µg/m³ | |
| Forest coverForest area, % of land area | 13.5%2024 | 149/214 | 41/57 | 12.2% | 12.6% | 13.3% | +0.5 ppsince 2014 | 38.6% | 36.2% | 31.1% | |
| FarmlandAgricultural land, % of land area | 69.2%2024 | 25/210 | 6/55 | 70.1% | 71.2% | 71.3% | −2.0 ppsince 2014 | 29.1% | 28.2% | 36.9% | |
| Arable landArable land, % of land area | 25.3%2024 | 39/206 | 20/53 | 24.3% | 24.7% | 24.7% | −0.5 ppsince 2014 | 12.3% | 9.0% | 10.7% | |
| Protected areasTerrestrial and marine protected areas, % of territory | 42.1%2025 | 8/213 | 3/55 | · | · | 40.3% | +25.5 ppsince 2015 | 13.2% | 22.2% | 17.0% | |
| Water withdrawalsFreshwater withdrawals, % of internal resources | 5.8%2022 | 102/177 | 29/47 | 8.6% | 5.7% | 5.8% | +0.3 ppsince 2012 | 6.7% | 6.4% | 9.0% | |
| Freshwater per personRenewable internal freshwater per person, m³ | 2,144 m³2022 | 103/183 | 33/48 | 2,462 m³ | 2,310 m³ | 2,173 m³ | −5.8%since 2012 | 7,674 m³ | 10,983 m³ | 5,393 m³ | |
| Cereal yieldCereal yield, kg per hectare | 6,558 kg/ha2024 | 21/179 | 8/48 | 7,165 kg/ha | 6,953 kg/ha | 6,241 kg/ha | −15%since 2014 | 4,045 kg/ha | 5,394 kg/ha | 4,229 kg/ha |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- CO₂ per person−37%4.22 t in 2024
- GHG per person−34%5.58 t in 2024
- GHG emissions−29%386.7 Mt in 2024
- CO₂ emissions−32%292.4 Mt in 2024
Worse than ten years ago
- Water withdrawals+0.3 pp5.8% in 2022
- Freshwater per person−5.8%2,144 m³ in 2022
- Cereal yield−15%6,558 kg/ha in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
United Kingdom and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with United Kingdom. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | United Kingdom | Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per person | 4.22 t2024 | 6.04 t2024 |
| GHG per person | 5.58 t2024 | 11.06 t2024 |
| GHG emissions | 386.7 Mt2024 | 59.7 Mt2024 |
| CO₂ emissions | 292.4 Mt2024 | 32.6 Mt2024 |
| Methane | 58.9 Mt2024 | 18.1 Mt2024 |
| Renewable energy | 12.2%2021 | 12.7%2021 |
| Renewable power | 40.2%2021 | 37.2%2021 |
| PM2.5 exposure | 9.5 µg/m³2023 | 7.5 µg/m³2023 |
| Forest cover | 13.5%2024 | 12.0%2024 |