U.K. emissions continue to fall

LONDON, July 18 (UPI) -- U.K. carbon dioxide emissions fell 2 percent between 2006 and 2007, a recent report said.

The U.K. Parliament receives a report every year, providing members with statistics about emissions and climate change.

The most recent annual report to Parliament was released by Defra, a U.K. analytical firm.

The report suggests that in 2007 carbon dioxide emissions were at about 543.7 million tons, which is about 2 percent lower than in 2006. The reduction is contributed to greater efficiency and energy savings, as well as switching from coal to natural gas.

Since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, U.K. emissions reportedly have fallen by 20.6 percent, Defra said, and the most recent projections suggest U.K. emissions will be 15.5 percent below 1990 levels by 2010.

The government has been increasing its nuclear power activities as well, in an effort to continue meeting its emissions reduction goals.