Key points
- In 2021, greenhouse gas emissions from transport in the North East totalled 2,930 kt CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent)
- This was just over 30% of total North East greenhouse gas emissions
- About 54% of North East transport emissions were from A roads, with 36% from minor roads, 8% from motorways and the remaining 2% from diesel railways and other transport
- About 30% of transport emissions were in County Durham, 21% in Northumberland, 11% to 13% in each of Gateshead, Newcastle and Sunderland, 8% in North Tyneside and 5% in South Tyneside
- Taking the resident populations into account, the North East had the fourth lowest transport emissions per head among the eight core city areas. The rate was lower than the national equivalent and, within the North East, was highest in Gateshead and Northumberland
- Compared with other core city areas, the North East had a lower percentage of emissions from motorways with only County Durham having a percentage close to the England equivalent.
Recent changes in North East transport emissions
Key points
- Between 2020 and 2021, transport greenhouse gas emissions in the North East increased by 191 kt CO2e, with the impact of the lifting of Covid restrictions leading to increased travel after a sharp decrease between 2019 and 2020
- Despite the increase in the latest year, the 2021 North East transport emissions were still lower than in 2019 (by 432 kt CO2e)
- The largest contributor to the increase between 2020 and 2021 was transport on A roads, followed by motorway transport. Increases in County Durham and Northumberland made the largest contributions, geographically
- The largest contributor to the decrease between 2019 and 2021 was also transport on A roads, but minor road transport had the next biggest impact. Again, County Durham and Northumberland made the largest contributions, geographically but with the largest decreases in this case.
North East transport emissions since 2005
Key points
- Transport emissions in the North East in 2021 were about 22% lower than in 2005. This percentage change was made up of a gradual decrease of 10% up to 2019 and a 13% decrease between 2019 and 2021.
- Emissions from A roads, minor roads and diesel railways all decreased by between 22% and 24% between 2005 and 2021 but emissions from motorways decreased by less than 1%.
- Over the same period, transport emissions in each of the five local authority areas in Tyne and Wear decreased by between 26% and 34% but the percentage decreases in Northumberland and County Durham were less than half this.
Geographical comparisons of changes
Key points
- Between 2020 and 2021, the North East had the third highest percentage increase in transport emissions among the eight core city areas. Locally, the largest percentage increases were in Northumberland and County Durham
- The percentage decrease in North East emissions between 2019 and 2021 was the fourth largest among the core city areas, with Newcastlle and Sunderland having the largest percentage decreases within the North East
- Over a longer time period (2005 to 2021) the North east also had the fourth largest percentage decrease in transport emissions with, again, Newcastle and Sunderland having the largest percentage decreases, locally
- Although the North East percentage decrease in transport emissions between 2005 and 2021 was larger than nationally, the change was driven by comparatively large percentage decreases from minor roads and diesel railways. the percentage decreases from motorways and A roads were lower than the national equivalents.
About the data
The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) publishes annual estimates of end-user greenhouse gas emissions for local authority areas in the UK. The release covers emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) and the latest edition was published on 29 June 2023 and includes statistics for 2005 to 2021.
The main data sources are the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory and DESNZ local energy consumption statistics. The local estimates do not include emissions from aviation, shipping and military transport, as these have no obvious basis for allocation to local areas. Emissions of fluorinated gases are also excluded. These accounted for about 3% of UK emissions in 2021, but suitable datasets are not available to estimate these emissions at a local level.
This page focuses on emissions from transport and includes estimates of the breakdown of road transport emissions by road type.
