Emissions from UK-based international aviation continued on downward path in 2008, reports DECC
Tue 2 Feb 2010 – Final 2008 results for UK greenhouse gas emissions released by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show a fall in emissions from international aviation fuel from 35.8 million tonnes to 34.4 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), a decline of 3.7 percent. However, between 1990 and 2008 the level of these emissions has more than doubled and do not include a greenhouse effect caused by high altitude aviation. Between 2007 and 2008, emissions from domestic aviation decreased by an even higher 5.0 percent. Between 1990 and 2008, emissions from this sector increased by 62.5 percent.
The UK Government has set a target for CO2 emissions from UK domestic and international aviation to be no higher than 2005 levels in 2050. In 2008, these emissions were 3.7 percent below 2005 levels. The peak year for international aviation was in 2006, when emissions reached 35.9 MtCO2e.
By contrast, emissions from UK shipping bunkers were 10.6 percent higher in 2008 than in 2007. Between 1990 and 1998, emissions from UK shipping increased by around a third, although these emissions have subsequently decreased by around 17 percent from their 1998 level.
Greenhouse gas emissions from UK-based international aviation 1990-2008 (MtCO2e):
