Official Statistics

Domestic air pollution emissions from transport in 2022

Published 12 December 2024

About this release

This release presents statistics on domestic air pollution emissions from transport for the United Kingdom (UK). Transport vehicles emit gases or other substances which do not have a significant greenhouse gas effect but do have significant health consequences.

The most significant air pollutants from the transport sector are nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM).

Air pollution figures for the United Kingdom are measured by the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) and emissions of air pollutants by sector are summarised by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as accredited official statistics^{[footnote 1]}. For more information, see the About these statistics section.

Data on air pollution from transport can be found on the energy and environment data tables page.

Headline figures

In 2022, transport was responsible for:

• 49% of NOx emissions, a 1 percentage point decrease from 2021
• 22% of PM2.5 emissions, a 1 percentage point decrease from 2021
• 18% of PM10 emissions, no change from 2021

Since 1990, air pollutants from transport in the UK have decreased considerably, primarily due to newer vehicles emitting lower levels of pollutants.

Domestic air pollutants changes over time

There have been significant reductions of all air pollutants from transport between 1990 and 2022.

Table 1: Change in domestic air pollutants from transport in the United Kingdom from 1990 to 2022 (ENV0301)

Air pollutants	Percentage change 1990 to 2022 (%)
PM2.5	-72%
PM10	-61%
NOx	-78%
SO2	-95%
CO	-94%
Benzene	-96%
13-butadiene	-97%
Lead	-97%

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Chart 1: Domestic nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions by transport mode in the United Kingdom, 1990 to 2022 (ENV0301)

HGVs stands for Heavy Goods Vehicles.

Other domestic category includes: motorcycles and mopeds, other road transport, rail, domestic aviation (landing and takeoff), other non-road transport, military aircraft and shipping.

Chart 1 is a line chart showing that since 1990, NOx emissions from:

• cars and taxis decreased by 671.8 kilotonnes (87% decrease), a significantly larger absolute decrease than any other domestic transport mode from a much higher baseline
• HGVs decreased by 212.7 kilotonnes (92% decrease)
• buses and coaches decreased by 50.6 kilotonnes (88% decrease)
• domestic shipping decreased by 85.4 kilotonnes (67% decrease)

Most domestic NOx emissions come from cars and taxis. Over time, reductions in NOx emissions from cars and taxis have been caused primarily by the introduction of legislative vehicle emission standards (for more details on the impact of these legislative standards, see ENV302).

NOx emissions from cars and taxis had a 30% fall between 2019 to 2020. In 2022, NOx emissions rose again by 2% but remained 25% lower than in 2019.

Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5)

Chart 2: Domestic PM2.5 emissions from road transport in the United Kingdom by source, 1990 to 2022 (ENV0301)

Chart 2 is a line chart showing that from 1990 to 2022, PM2.5 emissions from:

• exhaust emissions declined by 91%
• tyre and brake wear increased by 24%
• road abrasion increased by 24%

PM2.5 emissions from transport sources, including non-road sources, are available in table ENV0301.

Levels of particulate matter, from all domestic sources, in the atmosphere have generally decreased despite a period of little change between 2015 and 2019 (Defra air quality statistics).

About these statistics

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly by email with any comments about how we meet these standards.

Data sources

Air pollution figures for the UK are measured by the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI). Data here covers the period of 1990 to 2022. Unlike GHG emissions expressed as CO2e, there is no agreed way of comparing relative effects of different air pollutions. As a result, this report does not include a summed total of all air pollutants.

International air pollutants

Emissions from aviation (cruise) and international shipping are not included in the national total that is reported to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and not currently included in this report. These emissions are reported in table ENV0301 separately as memo items.

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Contact details

Transport energy and environment statistics

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1. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. ↩