Energy Usage and Environmental Pollution in the United Kingdom: Which Sector Dominates?
The trends of energy consumption and the sources of the associated emissions over the past two decades in the United Kingdom have been analysed. There are indications that the levels of emission of CO 2, NOx, CO, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and black smoke are rising steadily as a result of energy consumption. The road transport sector emerges as the current overall major contributor of these pollutants and the likely candidate to remain as the fastest growing energy consumer and polluter for some years to come. With the current rate of increase in the number of motor cars, that is 3.9 per cent per annum, and the likely environmental consequences, immediate technological solutions to reduce transport pollution are strongly recommended.