Is the air getting cleaner?
UK emissions of nitrogen oxides, a gas from burning fuel, were 20 in 2024 on an index where 1990 is 100. Fine particles (PM2.5) were 25, sulphur dioxide 2 and ammonia 83.
Index, 1990 = 100, 2024.
Index, 1990 = 100, 2024.
Index, 1990 = 100, 2024.
Emissions since 1990
What’s this?
How much of gases from burning fuel, mostly from road vehicles, that harm lungs and form smog the UK puts into the air each year, as a share of what it did in 1990 (1990 = 100).
What it cannot tell you: It measures what is released, not what people breathe, which depends on the weather and on how close they live to roads and industry. Emissions are estimated, not measured everywhere.
What’s this?
How much of tiny particles from burning fuel and wood, and from tyres and brakes, that reach deep into the lungs the UK puts into the air each year, as a share of what it did in 1990 (1990 = 100).
What it cannot tell you: It measures what is released, not what people breathe, which depends on the weather and on how close they live to roads and industry. Emissions are estimated, not measured everywhere.
What’s this?
How much of dust and soot particles from burning, roads, building and farming the UK puts into the air each year, as a share of what it did in 1990 (1990 = 100).
What it cannot tell you: It measures what is released, not what people breathe, which depends on the weather and on how close they live to roads and industry. Emissions are estimated, not measured everywhere.
What’s this?
How much of a gas from burning coal and oil that causes acid rain the UK puts into the air each year, as a share of what it did in 1990 (1990 = 100).
What it cannot tell you: It measures what is released, not what people breathe, which depends on the weather and on how close they live to roads and industry. Emissions are estimated, not measured everywhere.
What’s this?
How much of fumes from solvents, paints and fuel that help form smog the UK puts into the air each year, as a share of what it did in 1990 (1990 = 100).
What it cannot tell you: It measures what is released, not what people breathe, which depends on the weather and on how close they live to roads and industry. Emissions are estimated, not measured everywhere.
What’s this?
How much of a gas that comes mostly from farming and damages rivers and wildlife the UK puts into the air each year, as a share of what it did in 1990 (1990 = 100).
What it cannot tell you: It measures what is released, not what people breathe, which depends on the weather and on how close they live to roads and industry. Emissions are estimated, not measured everywhere.
Year by year
Index, 1990 = 100.
| Period | Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions | Fine particles (PM2.5) emissions | Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions | Volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) emissions | Ammonia (NH3) emissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 | 25 | 2 | 27 | 83 |
| 2023 | 21 | 26 | 3 | 27 | 86 |
| 2022 | 22 | 27 | 3 | 27 | 84 |
| 2021 | 23 | 28 | 3 | 28 | 87 |
| 2020 | 23 | 27 | 3 | 29 | 85 |
| 2019 | 27 | 30 | 4 | 30 | 88 |
| 2018 | 29 | 32 | 4 | 31 | 88 |
| 2017 | 30 | 32 | 5 | 30 | 90 |
| 2016 | 32 | 32 | 5 | 30 | 89 |
| 2015 | 36 | 33 | 7 | 30 | 88 |
| 2014 | 38 | 34 | 9 | 30 | 87 |
| 2013 | 40 | 35 | 11 | 31 | 83 |
Questions people ask
What does 'index, 1990 = 100' mean?
Each pollutant's emissions in 1990 are set to 100, so a value of 20 means emissions are now that percentage of the 1990 amount.
Are emissions the same as the air we breathe?
No. Emissions are what is released. What people breathe also depends on the weather, how close they live to roads and industry, and what blows in from abroad.
What does “nitrogen oxides (nox) emissions” measure?
How much of gases from burning fuel, mostly from road vehicles, that harm lungs and form smog the UK puts into the air each year, as a share of what it did in 1990 (1990 = 100). It was 20 (index, 1990 = 100) in 2024, down 26% on 2019. The highest we have is 100 (1990) and the lowest 20 (2024).
What does “fine particles (pm2.5) emissions” measure?
How much of tiny particles from burning fuel and wood, and from tyres and brakes, that reach deep into the lungs the UK puts into the air each year, as a share of what it did in 1990 (1990 = 100). It was 25 (index, 1990 = 100) in 2024, down 19% on 2019. The highest we have is 100 (1991) and the lowest 25 (2024).
What does “coarse particles (pm10) emissions” measure?
How much of dust and soot particles from burning, roads, building and farming the UK puts into the air each year, as a share of what it did in 1990 (1990 = 100). It was 31 (index, 1990 = 100) in 2024, down 15% on 2019. The highest we have is 100 (1990) and the lowest 31 (2024).
What does “sulphur dioxide (so2) emissions” measure?
How much of a gas from burning coal and oil that causes acid rain the UK puts into the air each year, as a share of what it did in 1990 (1990 = 100). It was 2 (index, 1990 = 100) in 2024, down 31% on 2019. The highest we have is 100 (1990) and the lowest 2 (2024).
Sources: Defra, National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory. Updated every night. Each chart has a CSV and a Share button.
See also: Greenhouse gases · The UK against other countries