Transport has overtaken energy supply as the biggest source of greenhouse gases, according to new government figures.
The final emissions statistics for 2016, published by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department on 6 February shows transport was responsible for 125.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (MtCO2e), up from 123.4 MtCO2e in 2015.
By contrast energy supply pumped out 120.2 MtCO2e, equating to a quarter of total emissions, compared to 144.4 MtCO2e in 2015.
The 24.2 MtCO2e drop was largely driven, according to the statistical bulletin, by a large decrease in power station emissions due to less use of coal following the conversion of a unit at the Drax plant to biomass and the closure of some power stations.
This 62 per cent reduction in coal-fired generation was partly offset by a 39 per cent increase in the use of gas for electricity generation.
Since the 1990s, there has been a 57 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the energy supply sector.
However, the statistics show the level of emissions from transport has been on the rise since 2014, now accounting for 26 per cent of the total.
Overall UK CO2 emissions were estimated to be 378.9 million tonnes (Mt), around 5.9 per cent lower than the 402.5 Mt figure recorded in the previous year.
The figures show the UK is on track to meet the second carbon budget, with annual 2013-2016 emissions each below the annual average emissions level of the budget period, which is set at 556.4 MtCO2e.
Responding to the statistics, Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Simon Bullock, said: “Transport secretary Chris Grayling must play catch-up fast – his department can’t continue to crawl along in the slow lane when it comes to tackling climate change.
“And if we want to play our part in international efforts to prevent global warming we must do even more, raising our ambition to match the Paris Agreement and taking immediate measures such as allowing communities to build onshore wind and solar and ensuring all new homes are zero carbon.”