Northern Ireland carbon intensity indicators
In order to complement the emissions data available from the historic greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and the Northern Ireland GHG projection tool, and to help Government track the effectiveness of their carbon reduction policies, a set of local carbon intensity indicators has been developed.
What are Carbon Intensity Indicators?
Rather than measuring absolute carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions levels, emissions intensity is concerned with capturing the amount of CO2 equivalent generated per unit of output or per capita, e.g., power sector emissions per unit of electricity generated or total NI emissions per head of population.
The value of taking such an approach is that, whilst overall emissions might be seen to be increasing for a particular sector in line with an expanding economy, the carbon intensity might actually be decreasing which could still be viewed as a positive outcome. The carbon intensity indicators are therefore another way of measuring the progress being made in NI towards reducing GHG emissions in terms of intensity as opposed to absolute emissions.
Publications
A new interactive report has been developed to accompany the 2024 release and is accessible from NI Carbon Intensity Indicators 2024 - Interactive report
Feedback on this report is welcome and should be emailed to branch.stats@daera-ni.gov.uk
- Northern Ireland carbon intensity indicators 2023
- Northern Ireland carbon intensity indicators 2022
- Northern Ireland carbon intensity indicators 2021
- Northern Ireland carbon intensity indicators 2020
- Northern Ireland carbon intensity indicators 2019
- Northern Ireland carbon intensity indicators 2018
- Northern Ireland carbon intensity indicators 2017
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Northern Ireland Dairy Farms
- Northern Ireland carbon intensity indicators 2016
Next update
Autumn 2025
Related links
- Cross-Departmental Working Group on Climate Change
- Northern Ireland greenhouse gas inventory
- Northern Ireland greenhouse gas projections
- Climate change indicators 2010
- Public perceptions on climate change in Northern Ireland 2012 (and 2009)
Contact us
Responsible statistician: Hugh McNickle
Tel: +44 (0)28 90 378346