Long cold spell led to rise in greenhouse gas

Greenhouse gas emissions in Britain rose last year because of people heating their homes during the prolonged cold weather.

Carbon dioxide, which accounts for about 84 per cent of UK emissions, was up 3.8 per cent, the Department of Energy and Climate Change said. Overall, emissions of the six main greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide were up 2.8 per cent on 2009.

The rise comes after large falls in greenhouse gases in 2009 as a result of the recession hitting industry and energy use. Carbon dioxide emissions from homes, which relate only to heating and cooking with gas, rose by 13.4 per cent in 2010. The rise was also driven by a switch from nuclear power to coal and gas for electricity generation.