Greenhouse gas emissions up by 0.2% in 12 months

The latest greenhouse gas bulletin with data from 2022 found that transport contributed 33.5% of total emissions followed by commercial and domestic combustion at 25%.

Transport was one of the only areas where emissions increased between 2021 and 2022, going up by 11.9%.

This is thought to be due to the restrictions on flights and ferries during the pandemic, whereas the lack of them in 2022 encouraged travel again.

In 1990, carbon dioxide levels were at 477.4kt, whereas that fell to just 225.4kt in 2022.

Carbon dioxide formed 76% of emissions and the main source of this was combustion of fossil fuels for power generation, transport and heating.

The Kyoto Protocol was extended to Guernsey in 2006 and agreed to reduce its emissions to 57% of 1990’s level by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050.

The island still needs to reduce emissions by 10.2% by 2030.

Active decisions to encourage the reduction of emissions have been made by the States, such as zero-rating standby charges for solar installations.

‘The report looks very positive and we’re definitely going a step in the right direction,’ said Little Green Energy Company CEO Bob Beebe.

‘Zero-rating standby charges is a testament to Guernsey’s dedication to sustainability and its recognition of the importance of renewable energy sources in the energy transition and journey to net zero.

‘By reducing the standby charge to zero, the States has not only made solar PV installations more accessible, but has also empowered more individuals and businesses to contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.’

Combustion of fuels for energy, including electricity generation, heating, industrial processes and transport, has contributed the largest proportion of emissions since 1990.

The majority of the emissions are in the form of carbon dioxide. In 2022, emissions from fuels for energy constituted 76.8% of the total emissions.

Landfilled waste is the next largest contributor to Guernsey’s total emissions and levels have shown little change since 1990.

The emissions are mostly in the form of methane gas, which is released by decomposing material. There was a large reduction in the amount of waste sent to Guernsey landfill in 2019, and emissions will decrease gradually as the waste decays.

Agriculture, land use, land use change and forestry combined contribute a 4.6% of total emissions in 2022. The majority of the emissions are methane released by the digestive processes of cattle.

Waste was the third largest contributor to Guernsey’s total emissions in 2022. It contributed 14.0%, 41.7kt of CO2 equivalent, of the total emissions in 2022, 7.5% lower than in 2021.

The emissions are mostly in the form of methane gas from landfill, which is released as landfilled putrescible matter decomposes.

F-gases can be released by refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump systems if they leak or are disposed of improperly.

In 2022, they were estimated to have contributed 4.6% of the total, compared to less than 0.001% in 1990 – an increase of 13.8kt of CO2 equivalent from a starting point near 0kt of CO2 equivalent.

2022 data compared with 1990

. Transport contributed the largest proportion of emissions in 1990 and 2022, at 26.8% and 33.5% respectively.

. Power generation contributed the second largest proportion in 1990 at 26.3%. In 2022 this was 7.6%.

. Waste contributed 12.4% in 1990 and 14% in 2022.

. Industrial combustion contributed 8.9% in 1990 compared with 10.7% in 2022, whilst commercial and domestic combustion went from 24.2% in 1990 to 25% in 2022.

. Agriculture, land use, land use change and forestry contributed 1.4% in 1990 and 4.6% in 2022.

. Fluorinated gases which contributed 0.1% in 1990, contributed 4.6% in 2022.

. In 2022, the total emissions by mass were 298.5kt of CO2 equivalent, whereas in 1990 the total emissions by mass were 560.8kt of CO2 equivalent.