Carbon Trust map reveals business carbon footprints across the UK

by Carbon Trust - Thursday, 18th October 2007

4 June 2007

Campaign launched to encourage business action on climate change

The Carbon Trust has today published a new carbon map illustrating the CO2 emissions released by businesses in 33 towns and cities across the UK. The map is released on the day the Carbon Trust launches its latest national advertising campaign to encourage business to take action on climate change.

The new figures also include the percentage of carbon dioxide emissions generated by business activity in each town or city. Business in the UK is responsible for approximately 40 per cent of carbon emissions and has an important role to play in tackling climate change. Of the areas surveyed, Greater London emerged as the city with the highest overall volume of CO2 emissions (50,754,000 tonnes) with Aberystwyth the lowest at 696,000 tonnes.

Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, said:
“Business has a critical role to play in tackling climate change as it is responsible for approximately 40 per cent of CO2 emissions in the UK and poor energy efficiency costs business an estimated £2 billion annually.

“Implementing straightforward energy saving measures in the workplace could reduce energy bills by up to 20 per cent, enhance their reputation and drastically cut their carbon footprint.”

The carbon map was designed so cities could better analyse their overall carbon footprint and identify areas where more efforts can be made.

“There are many low and no cost measures that can be implemented today that will cut carbon and save energy and we urge businesses to contact our free advice line on 0800 085 2005 and take advantage of the help and expertise that is available”

For the national map with detailed regional information, visit the new Carbon Trust microsite www.carbonmap.co.uk.

The figures included in the map are summarised below:

**2004 Carbon Dioxide End-User Emissions**
City	Total CO2 2004	CO2 from Business	% from Business
Aberystwyth	696,000	242,000	35%
Belfast	1,779,000	618,000	35%
Birmingham	6,807,000	3,123,000	46%
Blackpool	829,000	313,000	38%
Bournemouth	917,000	321,000	35%
Brighton	1,347,000	451,000	33%
Bristol	2,420,000	1,055,000	44%
Cambridge	776,000	411,000	53%
Cardiff	2,467,000	1,168,000	47%
Coventry	2,128,000	1,013,000	48%
Derry	794,000	345,000	43%
Edinburgh	3,281,000	1,443,000	44%
Exeter	707,000	315,000	45%
Glasgow	4,269,000	1,826,000	43%
Greater London	50,754,000	21,518,000	42%
London City	1,583,000	1,509,000	95%
Greater Manchester	19,165,000	7,649,000	40%
Manchester City	3,363,000	1,578,000	47%
Ipswich	826,000	373,000	45%
Leeds	5,905,000	2,242,000	38%
Leicester	2,217,000	1,212,000	55%
Liverpool	2,776,000	1,116,000	40%
Newcastle	5,868,000	2,320,000	40%
Newry	850,000	223,000	26%
Norwich	942,000	520,000	55%
Nottingham	1,958,000	936,000	48%
Oxford	981,000	479,000	49%
Portsmouth	1,270,000	555,000	44%
Preston	1,040,000	382,000	37%
Reading	1,086,000	543,000	50%
Sheffield	4,607,000	2,520,000	55%
Southampton	1,369,000	594,000	43%
Southend	837,000	280,000	33%
Stoke on Trent	1,700,000	676,000	40%
York	1,404,000	600,000	43%

Map methodology
The information underlying the map was compiled as part of the National Air Emissions Inventory (NAEI), and is based upon the tonnes of CO2 emitted by human activity across various sectors per square kilometre. “Human activity” encompasses anything from emissions produced while at home or in the office, to those emitted through the use of transport, through heavy industry, or through general land use.

The NAEI methodology therefore uses a wide range of spatial data, including but not limited to:

• The Environment Agency’s pollution inventory
• Department for Transport information on traffic flow data
• Ordnance Survey data
• 2001 Population census data
• Office of National Statistics Interdepartmental Business Register

A detailed report describing the methodology and outputs of the NAEI is published each year and can be found on the NAEI website at www.naei.org.uk\reports.php (Dore et al, 2006). The detailed methodology used to map emissions in the UK (King et al, 2006) can also be found from the link above and the emissions at Local Authority are reported on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/globatmos/galocalghg.htm

Tags: climate change, carbon dioxide emissions, tom delay, carbon footprint, carbon trust, poor energy efficiency,