Carbon dioxide emissions from transportation in the United Kingdom 1990-2023
Transportation carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the United Kingdom decreased by 1.3 percent in 2023 to 109 million metric tons (MtCO₂). The outbreak of COVID-19 caused UK transportation emissions to plummet almost 20 percent in 2020, which greatly contributed to overall UK CO₂ emissions reductions that year. Although emissions from this sector have rebounded since then, they remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Transportation is the largest source of UK emissions
The energy supply sector was once the largest source of emissions in the UK, but a shift away from coal use and a transition to cleaner energy sources has significantly cut emissions from this sector. As a result, energy supply emissions have fallen below those emitted by transportation, which is now the largest source of UK emissions.
UK road transportation emissions
Road vehicles are a major source of carbon pollution in the UK, with passenger cars the largest source of transportation emissions. Passenger cars are followed by heavy goods vehicles and light duty vehicles.