Greenhouse gas emissions
The 2023 total greenhouse gas emissions figure was 7.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) for the 12-authority Lancashire area. This equates to 6.2 tonnes per person (UK=5.2).
At the local authority area level, emissions range from 387.2 kilotonnes (kt) in Hyndburn to just over 1 megatonne (Mt) in Ribble Valley.
Compared to 2022, both total greenhouse gas emissions (8.2 million tonnes in 2022) and per capita emissions (6.6 in 2022) were lower in 2023. The total and per capita emissions continue a longer-term downward trend, with both having fallen by more than 40% in the past 18 years (in 2005, the total emissions figure was 13.4 million tonnes and 11.6 tonnes per capita in Lancashire-12).
Carbon dioxide (CO2) made up the largest proportion of total greenhouse gas emissions in Lancashire-12, accounting for 75.2% (5.9 million tonnes) of all emissions in 2023. Further information about CO2 emissions can be found in the carbon dioxide emissions article.
Emissions by sector
In Lancashire-12, the transport sector was the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions (2,283.6 kt), followed by the domestic sector (1,511.2 kt), industry (1,307.5 kt), and agriculture (1,170.3 kt).
Transport emissions are estimated based on the distribution of traffic, which includes through traffic, or part of trips into or out of the area whether by residents or non-residents (with the presence of motorway networks contributing to this figure). The transport sector was the largest source of emissions in all districts except Ribble Valley and West Lancashire. Emissions were highest for the transport sector in Lancaster (319.3 kt) and Chorley (309.3 kt).
Domestic emissions were greatest in areas with larger populations, including Preston (170.4 kt) and Lancaster (164.4 kt). In areas with fewer residents, such as Ribble Valley (88.7 kt) and Rossendale (92.9 kt), domestic emissions were lower.
The presence of high-energy using industries which are concentrated in a few areas can have a very large local impact. Within Lancashire, the share of emissions attributable to industry is greatest in districts where energy-intensive industrial activities have a disproportionate representation. Ribble Valley had the largest greenhouse gas emissions (569.9 kt), owing to the presence of manufacturing industries, including cement works which have high emissions.
Emissions from land use/land use change/forestry takes both CO2 emissions and removals into account. The largest net reduction in emissions occurred in Ribble Valley (-34.2 kt). In contrast, West Lancashire (217.6 kt) had the highest emissions in this sector, reflecting the large amount of top-grade agricultural land, the intensive nature of the farming and the use of heating and CO2 supplementation (or enrichment) in the many glasshouses there.
Source: UK local and regional greenhouse gas emissions from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, via LG Inform.
A report by Carbon Brief on greenhouse gas emissions at the UK level can be found in the 'related websites' panel. This shows that emissions have fallen 5.7% in 2023 compared to the previous year, a fall of 53% since 1990 and the lowest level of emissions since 1879.
Page updated 1 August 2025
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes annual data on greenhouse gases emissions which originate from UK territory broken down by local authority, dating back to 2005. These figures include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. CO2 figures had been available since 2005, and since 2022, figures for CH4 and N2O have been published (including going back to 2005).
Although entitled 'emissions' the totals are actually net values of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for CO2 sunk back into the land through forestry – hence the negative values in the land use/land use change/forestry sector figure for some areas. The Office for National Statistics publishes more current statistics for greenhouse gas emissions at a national level.
Estimates of national emissions have been available for several years from the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) and help to assess the impact of human activities on the environment and personal health. The NAEI provides much of the information that underlies the figures reported here, in addition to further highly detailed emissions data (dating from 1970 onwards) and maps. This includes an interactive map showing emissions by local authority area. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs also hosts the UK air information resource (UK AIR) web pages which provide a wealth of information on air quality and air pollution in the UK.
Sources of emissions
The emissions figures by source are estimated based on a number of factors which vary by source. For example, power stations supplying domestic electricity customers via the national grid have their emissions reallocated by domestic usage, rather than from where the emissions are actually released. There is a very strong correlation between domestic emissions and population. This may be largely due to the reallocation of power station emissions, as well as being influenced by the number of households in the area; fuel types used; the type and condition of the housing stock (including its insulation and energy efficiency); the average temperature (urban areas can be warmer and therefore easier to heat than rural areas); average household size; type of household; income and preferences of its occupiers.
Transport emissions include freight and passenger transport, both private and for business purposes. The estimates of road transport CO2 are made on the basis of the distribution of traffic, therefore some of the emissions within an authority represent through traffic, or part of trips into or out of the area whether by residents or non-residents. In some authorities this can be particularly significant and may provide part of the explanation for high figures in areas which straddle the county's motorway network.
In considering per capita ratios, it should be noted that while emissions per resident may be a useful measure for domestic emissions, CO2 levels from industry and road transport are affected by many factors other than the size of the resident population, so these ratios should be interpreted with caution.
Further details on the methodology of how emissions figures are estimated are available on the Office for National Statistics website.
Carbon dioxide equivalent and global warming potential
The values for methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) gases are published as kilotonnes of the carbon dioxide equivalent value (CO2e or CO2-eq). This is different from the true mass of the emissions in that it is multiplied by a factor known as the global warming potential (GWP) of the gas. Both methane and nitrous oxide have much higher GWPs than carbon dioxide (CO2) (25 and 298 respectively). Some less significant greenhouse gases, such as fluorocarbons, have GWPs of over 1,000. Using the CO2e measurement allows a total greenhouse gas figure to be calculated.
UK net zero target
In 2008, the UK government passed the Climate Change Act which aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 compared to 1990. In 2019, the UK committed to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. These commitments have driven the national reductions in emissions seen in the data. The Climate Change Act requires that 'carbon budgets' are set which are legally-binding for central government with local authorities expected to contribute towards achieving these goals. Local authorities are supported by local net zero programmes administered by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to help households and businesses to reduce emissions. The UK Environmental Accounts produced by the Office for National Statistics provides information on emissions from residents and UK-registered businesses and the impact of environmental issues on economic activity.