Share of CO₂ emissions covered by a carbon price in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of CO₂ emissions covered by a carbon price was 32.6% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of CO₂ emissions covered by a carbon price in United Kingdom, 1989–2025
Source: Dolphin and Merkle (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of co₂ emissions covered by a carbon price in United Kingdom stood at 32.6%.
That represents a change of down 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of co₂ emissions covered by a carbon price in United Kingdom peaked at 49.8% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1989.
United Kingdom ranks 44th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of CO₂ emissions covered by a carbon price in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 0.0% | — |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1992 | 0.0% | — |
| 1993 | 0.0% | — |
| 1994 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 0.0% | — |
| 1996 | 0.0% | — |
| 1997 | 0.0% | — |
| 1998 | 0.0% | — |
| 1999 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2001 | 0.0% | — |
| 2002 | 0.0% | — |
| 2003 | 0.0% | — |
| 2004 | 0.0% | — |
| 2005 | 48.8% | — |
| 2006 | 49.8% | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 49.3% | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 48.6% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 46.4% | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 46.5% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 47.1% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 47.9% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 46.6% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 44.9% | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 41.1% | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 36.6% | -11.0% |
| 2017 | 34.8% | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 33.5% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 32.5% | -3.0% |
| 2020 | 32.2% | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 31.6% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 32.6% | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 32.6% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 32.6% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 32.6% | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 32.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 37.8%, 86% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 32.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 41.9%, 78% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.3% | 0.0% | 49.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.2% | 32.5% | 47.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.3% | 31.6% | 32.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More climate change data for United Kingdom
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 37,706 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 8,697 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 29,008 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 32.82 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 1,036 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,083 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 7,027 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 55.89 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 26.52 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 2 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of co₂ emissions covered by a carbon price in United Kingdom?
- Share of co₂ emissions covered by a carbon price in United Kingdom was 32.6% in 2025, according to Dolphin and Merkle (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of co₂ emissions covered by a carbon price recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 49.8% in 2006.
- What is the lowest share of co₂ emissions covered by a carbon price recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1989.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of co₂ emissions covered by a carbon price?
- United Kingdom ranks 44th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of co₂ emissions covered by a carbon price rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Dolphin and Merkle (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of CO₂ emissions covered by a carbon price. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Carbon dioxide emissions are included in this figure if they are covered by a carbon tax or trading system.