8 Facts about the Environment

The environment contributes to the UK economy, from the value of our trees to how many people

are employed in low carbon industries.

The Office for National Statistics measures that value, as well as the impact the economy has on

the environment and how society responds to environment issues.

Fact 1UK Woodland provided the equivalent of

£5.6 billion of ecosystem services in 2014* (ONS estimate four ecosystem services provided by woodland; removal of

carbon, removal of pollution, recreation and provision of timber)*experimental estimates

Fact 2The value of a tree standing provides around 30 times more in recreational benefit and carbon and pollution removal, than it would provide if

cut down for timber.

Value as timber

Value as a tree

Fact 3There’s been a 28% drop in greenhouse gas

emissions between 1991 and 2014 - the lowest level since 1990.

600

400

20090 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14

800

1000Million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e)

Fact 4Between 2013 and 2014, diesel use increased by

3.3%, whereas petrol use decreased by 2.0%.

90

-- Petrol-- Diesel

92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14

Million tonnes of oil equivalent

10

15

20

25

30

Fact 5Consumption of renewable and waste sources

reached a record high of 14.4 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 2014, 7.1% of total

energy consumption.

7.1%Total energyconsumption

Fact 6In 2014, the low carbon and renewable energy

(LCRE) economy generated £46.2 billion turnover.

Fact 7In 2014, UK government spent an estimated £15.4 billion on environmental protection expenditure

(EPE), 1.9% of total government spend.

1.9%Total government spend

Fact 8Just over three-quarters (78.6%) of

government EPE* spend in 2014 was on waste management activities.

*Environmental Protection Expenditure

78.6%

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