In the report Energy Revolution: A Global Outlook, researchers from Imperial College London have assessed 25 countries, covering 80% of the world’s population.
Launched at the UN climate change conference in Katowice, Poland, the report looks at each country’s performance across five metrics, including:
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Clean power
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Fossil fuels
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Uptake and sales of electric vehicles
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Capacity for carbon storage
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Energy efficiency of households, buildings and transport.
The UK’s carbon price – its charge on greenhouse gas emissions which is stronger than elsewhere in Europe – has led to rapid deployment of renewables and the fastest phase out of coal power, making for world-leading progress in reducing the carbon emissions from power generation.
Whilst most countries have reduced the amount of carbon dioxide produced per kWh of electricity by 100g/ kWh over the last decade, the figure in the UK is more than double that at 260g/kWh.
Uptake of electric vehicles is also among the highest in the UK, which is home to the world’s 5th largest electric vehicle fleet.
However, progress in the UK is being hampered by the fact it lags behind on the provision of large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities, needed to limit the harmful greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere.
The research was conducted by Imperial College London, facilitated by Imperial Consultants and commissioned by Drax Group.