Lancashire Environment 2002
Global Atmosphere
There has been a 21% fall in emissions of carbon dioxide - the major greenhouse gas responsible for global warming - resulting from energy use in homes in Lancashire since 1990.
This is almost entirely due to the switch away from coal-fired power stations; actual energy use has increased by 15%.
Climate change is recognised as one of the greatest environmental threats facing the world today. Concentrations of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have risen as a consequence of human activity and have started to change our climate as seen by increasing incidents of flooding, storms and droughts.
Under the Kyoto Protocol the UK has agreed to reduce emissions of a 'basket' of six greenhouse gases by 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. The UK government also has a domestic goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010.
Lancashire County Council's energy consumption for street lighting increased by 3% between 1990 and 2000. The actual number of street lamps increased by around 20,000 lamps but energy efficiency measures reduced average energy consumption per lamp by 9%. Over the same period street lighting related Carbon Dioxide emissions fell by 39%.
Future cuts in emissions will require further energy conservation measures or cleaner energy supplies. Renewable energy creates no emissions but demand currently outstrips supply.
The domestic and transport sectors now account for 60% of carbon dioxide emissions in Lancashire. We do not have indicators to measure how our climate is changing and what impact that is having in Lancashire.
What is the role of LCC and other agencies?
Lancashire County Council is involved in the national Councils for Climate Protection Campaign. This has entailed compiling an accurate inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in Lancashire. The inventory is now being used to target where cuts in emissions need to be made. Lancashire County Council also has an important role to play in reducing Carbon Dioxide emissions from its own operations and by encouraging other sectors of the community to do the same.
| Consumptions and Emissions per year | |||||||||||
| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | ||||||
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions (Tonnes) | 40980 | 39144 | 37594 | 33802 | 33891 | 32401 | |||||
| Energy Consumption (KWh) | 56724600 | 56358667 | 57335067 | 58015117 | 59029103 | 58702814 | |||||
| Consumptions and Emissions per year | |||||||||||
| 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | |||||||
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions (Tonnes) | 30758 | 27670 | 27792 | 27947 | 24863 | ||||||
| Energy Consumption (KWh) | 58739999 | 58918322 | 59116417 | 59168753 | 58449704 | ||||||
Includes data from Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen Unitary Authorities.
| Average Consumption and Emissions per Household per year | ||||||||||
| 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | |
| Energy Consumption (KWh) | 3860 | 3920 | 4000 | 3960 | 3934 | 3946 | 4020 | 4207 | 4291 | 4247 |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions (Kg) | 2679 | 2568 | 2328 | 2269 | 2167 | 2063 | 1885 | 1981 | 2021 | 2000 |
Includes data from Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen Unitary Authorities.
| % Greenhouse Gas Emissions | |
| Industrial | 19 |
| Commercial | 12 |
| Domestic | 31 |
| Other | 6 |
| Watse | 3 |
| Transport | 29 |
Includes data from Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen Unitary Authorities.