The bar illustrates the changes in the level of carbon emissions of three types of fossil fuel in the United Kingdom over the period from 1990 to 2010, at five-years intervals, measured in million tons.
Overall, a relatively stable trend can be observed throughout the period. While the level of carbon emissions from coal consistently remained the dominant category, gas experienced the most dramatic growth and eventually overtook those from oil in 1995. By contrast, emissions from gas remained at the lowest level throughout this period.
In 1990, emissions from coal emerged as the leading category, standing at above 300 million tons, while those from oil followed at nearly 275 million tons. By comparison, the figures for those from gas were far less significant, at approximately 225 million tons. However, the subsequent years witnessed stable trend, except 1995 with fluctuated trend. In 1995, carbon emissions from coal declined significantly, those from oil followed a similar trajectory, eventually reaching nearly 250 million tons. in contrast, carbon emissions from gas increased sharply and reached about 275 million tons.
In contrast to the trends observed in carbon emissions from coal, those from oil followed a similar pattern throughout the timeframe. Although starting from a relatively high base, carbon emissions from coal witnessed a significant decline, but quickly returned to a dominant position.
By the end of the timeframe, carbon emissions from coal had consolidated its position as the dominant category at approximately above 300 million tons, whereas those from gas remained the lowest, standing at only around 225 million tons.