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The UK's CO2 Emissions Have Fallen 38% Since 1990, Faster Than Any Other Major Developed Country (carbonbrief.org)
The UK's CO2 emissions peaked in the year 1973 and have declined by around 38% since 1990, faster than any other major developed country. From a report: The most significant factors include a cleaner electricity mix based on gas and renewables instead of coal, as well as falling demand for energy across homes, businesses and industry. Declines in the UK's CO2 have persisted despite an economic recovery from the financial crisis a decade ago. Where earlier reductions were largely negated by rising imports, the past decade has seen genuine cuts in the amount of CO2 for which the UK is responsible. The factors driving emission reductions will likely continue into the future as the UK's remaining coal use is phased out by 2025.
The point is that you just shift your manufacturing to these other countries and *voila* you "produce" less Co2 and they produce "more". But in reality they are just manufacturing junk for you, so it really isn't significant. The Earth really doesn't care. But people in the EU get to feel better about themselves, which is really all that matters in the end.
Well, despite housing stock being overall a bit shit, standards of new builds (tiny shoeboxes) are generally quite efficient. Manufacturing is outsourced to other countries and pollution is further reduced. On top of that, despite the temperature hovering near freezing, many are wearing their entire wardrobes rather than turn on their expensive electric. A recent Facebook argument with hundreds of comments argued about the practicalities of heating a flat with some tea-lights and flower pots! In short, making people poorer is a great way to tackle emissions :(