The Low Carbon Kid has just uncovered a Department for Transport document published just three days before Christmas which gives some revealing statistics about the rising climate impact of travel in the UK.
It reveals the difficulty of taking air travel to task for its climate impact, since there is no international agreement yet on ways of allocating emissions from aviation and shipping to individual countries.
It shows how much this impact is increasing, and in particular the weight we should give to air travel. It also shows how this figure is calculated, not an easy task.
The data is in the form of a letter supplied under the Freedom of Information act to an unknown enquirer. In the letter, reproduced below, all names have been blocked out (XXX), including that of the DfT official who wrote the letter - presumably under the Freedom From Information Act. This must be the same reason why it was leaked just before Christmas when no one would notice.
The key information in it is:
- the growth in greenhouse gas emissions from the transport industries 1990 to 2003 was 50%
- In 2003, these industries together represented 13% of the UK's emissions
- for some reason it excludes household use of private vehicles, and road freight not by road haulage companies (for example, supermarket freight is not included)
- for Government statistical purposes the transport sector makes up 23% of the UK's CO2 emissions, - it grew 7% since 1990 (CO2 accounts for over 96% of transport's greenhouse gas emissions)
- there is no international agreement yet on ways of allocating emissions from aviation and shipping to individual countries
- assuming emissions from all departing shipping or flights are assigned to the UK, including them would raise transport's contribution to the UK's CO2 emissions to 27%
- In 2003, aviation's share of the total domestic CO2 emissions was 5.4%, doubled since 1990 (2.8%)
"Dear Mr XXX,
"Thank you for your email of 29 November about CO2 emissions from aircraft.
"I have been asked to reply.
"Your request has been considered under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
"We believe the 47% figure you quote is the growth in greenhouse gas emissions from the transport industries between 1990 and 2002, reported in the 2004 Environmental Accounts.
"This has since been updated - the growth from 1990 to 2003 was 50%.
"However, this refers to the transport industries, not all transport.
"The transport industries include domestic public transport, road haulage companies, and all sea and air transport.
"In 2003, these industries together represented 13% of the UK's emissions.
"It excludes household use of private vehicles, and road freight not by road haulage companies (for example, supermarket freight is not included).
"To ensure a suitable like for like comparison along the lines you suggest, it would be better to consider that the transport sector makes up 23% of the UK's CO2 emissions, having grown 7% since 1990 (CO2 accounting for over 96% of transport's greenhouse gas emissions).
"However, this excludes international aviation and shipping, there being no international agreement yet on ways of allocating such emissions.
"If we assume that emissions from all departing shipping or flights are assigned to the UK, including international aviation and shipping would raise transport's contribution to the UK's CO2 emissions to 27%.
"In response to your other specific queries:
"(i) In 2003, aviation's share of the total domestic CO2 emissions was 5.4%.
"This represents 0.58 million tonnes carbon equivalent from domestic aviation and 8.09 million tonnes carbon equivalent from international aviation.
"(ii) In 1990, overall aviation CO2 emissions (domestic plus international) was 2.8% of the UK total CO2 emissions. [Taken from UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 1990 to 2003, NETCEN]
"(iii) Figures vary slightly for the amount of CO2 produced per aviation mile.
"The most recent figures derived from Defra's Company Greenhouse Gas Reporting Manual suggest 150g CO2 per passenger km for short haul and 110g CO2 per passenger km for long haul flights.
"We are unable to set out this figure in suitable layman's terms due to the complexity of making such a comparison.
"However, you can compare these figures with other modes of transport and activities in the Defra Company Greenhouse Gas Reporting Manual.
"If you are interested in finding out more about climate change and the context of various emissions, other organisations have made estimations of the impact of different activities in terms of greenhouse gases and you may find the following websites of interest: Energy Saving Trust BP - www.bp.com - carbon footprint calculator Climate Care. Please be aware that these websites are not necessarily endorsed by Government.
"The information supplied to you above continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
"You are free to use it for your own purposes, including any non-commercial research you are doing and for the purposes of news reporting.
"Any other re-use, for example commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder.
"If you are unhappy with the way the way your request was handled, you may ask for an internal review.
"Please contact XXX who will arrange an internal review of your case.
"XXX If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you also have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.
"The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF I hope this letter is helpful but if you have any further queries about it, please contact me.
"Yours sincerely, XXX"
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