United Kingdom flag

United Kingdom

Northern Europe69.3M
B+

Climate Score

— / 100

ChangerLow Risk

CO\u2082 per capita

4.4t CO\u2082e

World Bank WDI (2023)

GDP

$3.46T($49.9k/capita)

World Bank (2023)

Renewable electricity

47.3%

↑ +14.3pp (5yr)

Ember (2023)

Vulnerability

0.298ND-GAIN index

ND-GAIN (2023)

  • CO₂ at 4.4t per capita — moderate by global standards
  • Renewable electricity at 47.3%, up 14.3pp over 5 years
  • Climate vulnerability: low risk (ND-GAIN 0.298)
03691215200020042008201220162020t CO₂e/capitaParis 20154.4t59% gap

United Kingdom

0t

CO₂ per capita, 2023

CO₂/capita4.4t
Renewable47.3%
Decoupling+69.78

Scroll to see the full story

Emissions Trajectory

Emissions are shifting. But is it enough?

Pre-Paris (2000-2014)

United Kingdom's emissions trajectory is being tracked across multiple data sources.

United Kingdom — CO₂ per capita (2000-2023)

Source: World Bank WDI + OWID Consumption

Production-basedConsumption-based
03691215200020042008201220162020t CO₂e/capitaParis 20154.4t59% gap

Post-Paris Shift

United Kingdom's emissions trajectory reflects ongoing energy transition dynamics.

Pre-Paris vs Post-Paris CAGR

Key Comparison

Loading comparison data…

Source: World Bank WDI

Sector Breakdown

Agriculture dominates at 16.7% of total emissions. Transportation follows at 16.7%. Total: 2749521.39 Gt CO₂e.

Emissions by Sector (2024)

Source: Climate TRACE v7

2749521.39 Gt
Agriculture458253564.8 Mt · 16.7%Transportation458253564.8 Mt · 16.7%Manufacturing458253564.8 Mt · 16.7%Waste458253564.8 Mt · 16.7%Power458253564.8 Mt · 16.7%Buildings458253564.8 Mt · 16.7%

Fossil Fuel Mix

Fossil fuels still make up 38.4% of the electricity mix. In 2023, Oil was the dominant source at 154.7 Mt CO₂.

Fossil CO₂ by Fuel Type

Source: Our World in Data

CoalOilGasCementFlaring
02004006008001000200020042008201220162020Mt CO₂

Energy Transition

The energy transition is underway.

Renewables Progress

47.3% of electricity comes from renewables. That is +14.3pp over 5 years. Fossil fuels still make up 38.4%.

Carbon intensity: 228 gCO₂/kWh.

Electricity Generation Mix (2023)

Source: Ember Global Electricity Review (2023)

United Kingdom — Energy Flow 2023Electricity generation mix · carbon outputINPUTGRIDOUTPUT38%47%14%Fossil38.4%Renewable47.3%Nuclear14.3%ElectricityCO2 Output38.4%Clean Output61.6%Source: Ember Global Electricity Review 2023 | visualclimate.org

47.3%

Renewable Share

+14.3pp over 5yr

38.4%

Fossil Fuel Share

14.3%

Nuclear & Other

228

gCO₂/kWh

Moderate

Economic Decoupling

Is GDP growth decoupled from emissions growth?

Decoupling Score

Score: +69.78.

GDP vs CO₂ Growth

Indexed to 2000=100

Decoupling
GDP per capitaCO₂ per capitaCarbon Intensity of GDP
4080120160200200020042008201220162020Index (2000=100)17647

Source: World Bank WDI + OWID CO₂/GDP

79.8 Gt

Cumulative CO₂

Total since 1850

4.41%

Share of global

Cumulative share since 1850

0.040°C

Warming caused

by this country

Gas Breakdown

CO₂ dominates the warming contribution, followed by methane. N₂O contribution is relatively small. Total warming contribution: 0.040°C.

Temperature Contribution by Gas

Source: Our World in Data

CO₂0.036°C (90%)
CH₄0.003°C (6%)
N₂O0.001°C (4%)

386.6 Mt

Total GHG

All greenhouse gases

5.6

tCO₂e/capita

Total GHG per person

Methane & Nitrous Oxide

Source: Our World in Data

Methane (left axis)Nitrous Oxide (right axis)
03060901201500816243240200020042008201220162020CH₄ MtN₂O Mt

Climate Vulnerability & Resilience

How prepared is United Kingdom?

Readiness & Vulnerability

United Kingdom ranks 2nd in climate readiness (score: 0.695). Vulnerability stands at 0.298 — indicating relatively stronger resilience.

Vulnerability vs Readiness

Source: ND-GAIN Country Index 2023

0.2830.440.5970.240.4990.758Vulnerability →Readiness →United Kingdom

Key Takeaways

United Kingdom at a glance

Emissions

CO₂/capita: 4.4t. Emissions trajectory under review.

Diagnosis

Renewable: 47.3%

Fossil: 38.4%

Decoupling: +69.78.

Outlook

Vulnerability: 0.298. Readiness: 0.695.

Data Sources

All data for United Kingdom sourced from World Bank WDI, Ember, ND-GAIN, Our World in Data, and Climate TRACE (2000-2023).

Compare with other countries
View detailed source list
WDIWorld Bank World Development Indicators -- CO₂/capita (EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5), GDP/capita, forest area, energy use, PM2.5
EmberEmber Global Electricity Review -- Renewable %, fossil %, carbon intensity (gCO₂/kWh)
ND-GAINNotre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative -- Vulnerability index, readiness index
OWIDOur World in Data -- Consumption CO₂, fuel breakdown, cumulative CO₂, temperature contribution, methane, N₂O, total GHG
CTRACEClimate TRACE v7 -- Satellite-based sector emissions (power, transport, manufacturing, agriculture, etc.)
View all countries

Data Sources

Derived Indicators — Methodology

Carbon Intensity of GDP (DERIVED.CO2_PER_GDP)

CO₂_per_capita ÷ GDP_per_capita × 1,000

Unit: tCO₂ per $1,000 GDP. Lower = cleaner economy. 2023 range: DEU 0.13 → KOR 0.32.

Decoupling Index (DERIVED.DECOUPLING)

GDP_growth_rate(%) − CO₂_growth_rate(%)

Unit: percentage points. Positive = economy growing faster than emissions.

Energy Transition Momentum (DERIVED.ENERGY_TRANSITION)

RENEWABLE_PCT(t) − RENEWABLE_PCT(t−5)

Unit: pp over 5 years. 2023: DEU +19.2pp, BRA +6.6pp, USA +5.2pp, KOR +4.9pp.

Emissions (3)
IndicatorSourceYears
Carbon intensity of GDPDerived2000–2023
CO2 per capitaWorld Bank WDI2000–2023
Decoupling indexDerived2000–2023
Energy (4)
IndicatorSourceYears
Renewable electricity %Ember/OWID2000–2023
Fossil electricity %Ember/OWID2000–2023
Energy use per capitaWorld Bank WDI2000–2023
Carbon intensityEmber/OWID2000–2023
Economy (1)
IndicatorSourceYears
GDP per capitaWorld Bank WDI2000–2023
Climate Risk (4)
IndicatorSourceYears
PM2.5 air pollutionWorld Bank WDI2000–2020
Forest areaWorld Bank WDI2000–2023
ND-GAIN ReadinessND-GAIN2023–2023
ND-GAIN VulnerabilityND-GAIN2023–2023
Derived (46)
IndicatorSourceYears
OWID.CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CUMULATIVE_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CONSUMPTION_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.TOTAL_GHGOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.SHARE_GLOBAL_CUMULATIVE_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CONSUMPTION_CO2_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.NITROUS_OXIDEOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
SP.POP.TOTLWorld Bank WDI2000–2023
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_N2OOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CEMENT_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.GHG_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_GHGOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.GAS_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.OIL_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CO2_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CO2_PER_GDPOWID CO22000–2022
OWID.METHANEOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.FLARING_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.METHANE_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.TOTAL_GHG_EXCLUDING_LUCFOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.ENERGY_PER_GDPOWID CO22000–2022
OWID.SHARE_GLOBAL_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_CH4OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.COAL_CO2OWID CO22000–2023
OWID.ENERGY_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.CO2_INCLUDING_LUCOWID CO22000–2023
OWID.NITROUS_OXIDE_PER_CAPITAOWID CO22000–2023
DERIVED.CLIMATE_CLASSVisualClimate derived2023–2023
CTRACE.FOSSIL_FUEL_OPERATIONSClimate TRACE2024–2024
REPORT.EMISSIONS_SCORE2024–2024
REPORT.ENERGY_SCORE2024–2024
REPORT.GRADE2024–2024
CTRACE.BUILDINGSClimate TRACE2024–2024
REPORT.RESILIENCE_SCORE2024–2024
REPORT.RESPONSIBILITY_SCORE2024–2024
CTRACE.WASTEClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.FORESTRY_AND_LAND_USEClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.AGRICULTUREClimate TRACE2024–2024
REPORT.TOTAL_SCORE2024–2024
CTRACE.TRANSPORTATIONClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.TOTALClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.POWERClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.MINERAL_EXTRACTIONClimate TRACE2024–2024
CTRACE.MANUFACTURINGClimate TRACE2024–2024
REPORT.ECONOMY_SCORE2024–2024
Compare with other countriesExplore all countries