​The UK’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 3.6% in 2024, reaching 371 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent—the lowest since 1872, per Carbon Brief’s analysis. This significant reduction is largely attributed to a sharp decline in coal usage, which fell to levels not seen since 1666. Contributing factors include the September shutdown of the UK’s last coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, and one of the final blast furnaces at Port Talbot steelworks in Wales. Additional elements such as decreased oil and gas demand, a nearly 40% surge in electric vehicle adoption, milder temperatures, and record clean energy production also played roles. Since 1990, the UK has reduced emissions by 54% while its GDP grew by 84%. However, to meet future climate goals—an 81% reduction by 2035 and net-zero by 2050—the UK must accelerate its annual emission cuts beyond the 2024 rate.​

Source: Independent.co.uk