THE Vale of Glamorgan has recorded the biggest ever decrease in emissions for the area.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy figures show transport – including cars, trains and other modes of travel – caused 208 kilo-tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (ktCO2e) emissions in the Vale of Glamorgan in 2020.

Carbon dioxide equivalent determines the amount of CO2 that would need to be emitted to equal the same global warming potential of other produced greenhouse gases.

In 2019, there was 254 ktCO2e in the Vale.

This is the largest single decrease in emissions since records began in 2005, when emissions hit 278 ktCO2e.

Road vehicles accounted for 94 per cent of transport emissions, while diesel-powered trains produced a further two per cent.

The Vale of Glamorgan's total greenhouse gas emissions fell to 1,139 ktC02e in 2020, down eight per cent from 1,139 the year before.

Of this, 18 per cent was caused by transport, while commercial emissions accounted for two per cent, industry produced 52 per cent and domestic use 17 per cent.

The average person in the Vale of Glamorgan produced eight tCO2e in 2020.

A similar picture is present across all of the UK, with the ktCO2e caused by transport dropping from 130,021 to 106,671 - another record.

Friends of the Earth attributed the dramatic fall to the general public travelling less during lockdown and believe that these figures are not suprising.

Mike Childs, head of policy, said rebounding traffic levels are now contributing to the Government's struggle in meeting its climate targets.

Mr Childs said: "Ministers must do more to help people switch to electric vehicles or, better still, encourage them to leave their cars at home by providing better public transport and making it safer to walk and cycle.

"This would boost our energy security, cut soaring bills and slash the dangerous emissions that are warming our planet."