environment
sustainability
Greenhouse gas emissions per head and sectoral composition in the Greater West of England, 2023
This data insight describes territorial greenhouse gas emissions per head and the sectoral composition of emissions in the Greater West of England.
The Greater West of England is a bespoke geography defined here as Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire.
The analysis presents emissions per head for carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), compares the Greater West of England with other UK regions and selected combined authority areas, and shows how emissions are distributed across sectors both within the region and across local authority areas.
The statistics are published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and relate to territorial greenhouse gas emissions within UK borders for calendar year 2023.
3.77 tCO₂e
Carbon dioxide emissions per head in the Greater West of England, 2023
0.58 tCO₂e
Methane emissions per head in the Greater West of England, 2023
40.62%
Share of emissions accounted for by transport in the Greater West of England, 2023
5.68 tCO₂e
Carbon dioxide emissions per head in Tewkesbury (Gloucestershire), 2023
Greenhouse gas emissions per head by gas, selected UK areas, 2023
This visualisation shows emissions per head for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide across selected UK regions and combined authority areas in 2023.
Carbon dioxide emissions per head in the Greater West of England were 3.77 tonnes, lower than the UK average of 4.13 tonnes and the England average of 3.96 tonnes. Values across comparator areas ranged from 3.16 tonnes in the West Midlands to 8.92 tonnes in Greater Lincolnshire.
Methane emissions per head in the Greater West of England were 0.58 tonnes, compared with 0.62 tonnes in England and 0.83 tonnes in the UK. Methane emissions per head were higher in areas such as Devon and Torbay, and Northern Ireland.
Nitrous oxide emissions per head in the Greater West of England were 0.22 tonnes, consistent with the England average and lower than the UK average of 0.26 tonnes.
Greenhouse gas emissions per head across local authority areas in the Greater West of England, 2023
This visualisation shows emissions per head for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide across local authority areas within the Greater West of England in 2023.
Carbon dioxide emissions per head ranged from 2.68 tonnes in Cheltenham (Gloucestershire) and 2.73 tonnes in Bristol, to 5.68 tonnes in Tewkesbury and 5.13 tonnes in Cotswold (both Gloucestershire). The Greater West of England recorded an average carbon dioxide emissions per head of 3.77 tonnes.
Methane emissions per head were highest in Forest of Dean (Gloucestershire) (1.39 tonnes), Wiltshire (1.08 tonnes) and Cotswold (1.04 tonnes), while lower values were recorded in Bristol, Swindon and Cheltenham.
Nitrous oxide emissions per head were highest in Cotswold (0.76 tonnes) and Wiltshire (0.45 tonnes), with lower levels recorded across urban areas such as Bristol and Gloucester.
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector, selected UK areas, 2023
This visualisation shows the percentage distribution of territorial greenhouse gas emissions by sector across selected UK regions and combined authority areas in 2023. Percentage shares exclude emissions from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF).
In the Greater West of England, transport accounted for 40.62% of territorial emissions, a higher share than the England average of 34.06%. Domestic emissions accounted for 22.29%, similar to the England share of 22.74%.
The agriculture share in the Greater West of England was 13.56%, compared with 10.73% in England. Industry accounted for 7.36% of emissions in the Greater West of England, lower than the England average of 14.22%.
Across comparator areas, industry accounted for a larger share in areas such as Greater Lincolnshire and Tees Valley, while agriculture accounted for a larger share in Devon and Torbay, and Northern Ireland.
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector across local authority areas in the Greater West of England, 2023
This visualisation shows the percentage distribution of territorial greenhouse gas emissions by sector across local authority areas within the Greater West of England in 2023. Percentage shares exclude emissions from LULUCF.
Transport accounted for the largest share of emissions in most local authority areas, with shares ranging from 26.26% in Cheltenham to 53.01% in South Gloucestershire.
Domestic emissions accounted for between 15.64% of emissions in Tewkesbury and 36.91% in Cheltenham. Agriculture accounted for a higher share of emissions in more rural areas, including Forest of Dean (28.49%) and Cotswold (28.00%).
Industry, commercial, public sector and waste emissions accounted for smaller shares across most areas, with variation by local authority.
