Читать книгу How Can I Stop Climate Change: What is it and how to help - Литагент HarperCollins USD, F. M. L. Thompson - Страница 95

Demand for electricity is responsible for roughly a third of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions. That’s because we rely on fossil fuel: large, centralised power stations burn coal and gas to generate most of our electricity. The UK does produce some electricity using renewable sources such as wind and hydropower, but at the moment this provides only around 4 per cent of our electricity.

Demand for electricity in the UK has doubled since the 1970s – partly as a result of the growing number of smaller households, most with their own fridge, freezer and microwave. Over this period power stations have become more efficient, but a diminishing supply of North Sea gas, combined with high oil and gas prices, have led generating companies to turn to coal. Coal produces higher levels of carbon dioxide emissions than gas does and can cause other pollution problems as well.