Latest CO2 statistics for Greater Manchester

The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) recently released the latest statistics on carbon dioxide emissions for each local authority area between 2005 and 2010.

The figures show that emissions in Greater Manchester rose by over 5% in 2010, an increase that has widely been attributed to the exceptionally cold winter that year (Figure 1).

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Figure 1

While total emissions fell by 9.4% between 2005 and 2010 and per capita emissions were 12.3% lower, some boroughs are making better progress than others.

Here in Manchester, our emissions in 2010 were only 7% lower than in 2005, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.  In fact, Manchester had the biggest fall in per capita emissions between 2005 and 2010 of over 17%, but also had the largest increase in population, of 11.6%, in the same period.

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Figure 2

Tameside saw the biggest drop in emissions of 14.5% over those five years, mostly as a result of a 22% reduction in the commercial & industrial sector (Figure 2).

Emissions in Trafford, on the other hand, have only fallen by 3.4% in the same period, with almost no change in the business sector.

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Figure 3 (per capita emissions in tonnes CO2)

The breakdown of per capita emissions by sector in 2010 (Figure 3) highlights the different challenges facing different parts of Greater Manchester.

For example, per capita emissions from the industrial & commercial sector are particularly high in Trafford (courtesy of Trafford Park), but domestic emissions per person are also the highest of the ten boroughs.

Meanwhile, Bolton and Salford have the highest per capita emissions from road transport, up to 50% more than the areas with the lowest transport emissions per person, Oldham & Tameside.

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Figure 4 (emissions in kilotonnes CO2)

Looking at the change in Manchester’s emissions over the past five years (Figure 4), we can see that in 2009 we were roughly on track to meet the target in the city’s climate change plan, Manchester: A Certain Future, to cut emissions by 41% by 2020.

However, while the slow downward trend in transport emissions has continued, the jump in business and domestic emissions in 2010 has left us with plenty of ground to make up.

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Figure 5 (emissions in kilotonnes CO2)

With the bulk of our emissions coming from the domestic and business sectors (Figure 5), it’s all the more important that Government policy is focussed on reducing energy demand and decarbonising our electricity supply.

And you can help make it happen:

• as an individual, support our Clean British Energy campaign by signing our online petition and switching to a green energy supplier such as Ecotricity or Good Energy;

• as an organisation, sign our joint statement to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change.

Thanks for your support!

NB: Full details of the emissions figures for Greater Manchester can be found on our Scribd page.