Top areas where carbon footprint has fallen in the last 25 years

10 January 2024 , 08:10

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The UK's carbon footprint has almost halved in the last 25 years, according to EDF data (Image: PinPep)

The carbon footprint of everyday tasks such as using a laptop, or running a fridge-freezer for a day, has fallen – by over 80% in the last 25 years, figures have shown.

The nation's overall carbon footprint has almost halved in the last quarter of a century, with seven in 10 Brits (71%) keen to do their bit by living more sustainably.

Over half (55%), of the 2,000 adults polled, feel it is very important that any new products or appliances brought into their home are energy efficient – with the greenhouse gas footprint of cooking a meal on an induction hob having fallen by almost 65% since 1998.

However, three in 10 of those polled are concerned that no progress has been made in making the country greener over the last 25 years.

And 35% are worried that their actions – from using public transport to recycling, or using energy-efficient appliances – are making little or no difference.

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The research was commissioned by EDF to mark its 25th anniversary, with a spokesman saying: “Many of us remember the days of desktop computers and CRT TVs – but most of us don’t realise just how much progress has been made in reducing the nation’s carbon footprint since the late 1990s.

Top areas where carbon footprint has fallen in the last 25 years

And seven in 10 are keen to do their bit to make a sustainable impact - with over half saying it is very important the appliances in their home are energy efficient (PinPep)

“In fact, this country has taken significant strides towards lower carbon living, and it's striking to see just how much greener many of our daily activities are now than they were 25 years ago.

“Many consumers are taking steps in their daily lives to save cost and carbon, but there are clearly still big concerns over the progress we’re making as a nation.”

The energy company also compared the greenhouse gas footprint of doing household tasks in 1998, and their equivalent today. Figures were calculated by looking at the energy output of each item, and multiplying it by the intensity of the national grid from the late 90s to now.

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It found that in 1998, the greenhouse gas footprint of cooking a meal on an induction hob was 341 g/CO2e, while it is only 120 g/CO2e today.

Running a fridge-freezer for one day would have racked up a footprint of 938 g/CO2e 25 years ago, but today it would be just 183 g/CO2e. And working on a laptop has dropped from 211 g/CO2e, to just 34 g/CO2e.

But the OnePoll research found that, despite the progress in adopting zero-carbon electricity generation sources, such as wind, solar, and nuclear power, only one in 10 people believe this has made a major contribution to reducing the nation’s carbon footprint over the past 25 years – with 6% thinking it has made no contribution at all.

EDF’s spokesman added: “Whilst 90s nostalgia may be trending, none of us want to see higher carbon outputs make a comeback.

“As Britain’s biggest generator of zero-carbon electricity, we’re committed to continuing to invest in methods such as wind, solar, and nuclear, to help the nation reach net zero by 2050.”