Written question asked by Lord Lawson of Blaby (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 July 2009.

Climate Change: Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of total annual United Kingdom emissions, in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent, is accounted for by (a) livestock, and (b) the human population in the normal course of breathing.

Answer: (a) The UK greenhouse gas inventory shows that agriculture as a whole accounts for around 8 per cent of UK total emissions in 2007. This includes significant contributions from methane (37.7 per cent of UK total methane emissions) and nitrous oxide (74.4 per cent of UK total nitrous oxide emissions). Direct emissions from the UK livestock sector in 2007 were 2.9 per cent of the UK total emissions. (b) Carbon dioxide emissions from the human population in the normal course of breathing are not included in the UK greenhouse gas inventory.

Secondary information