British empire’s past emissions ‘double UK’s climate responsibility’

Exclusive: Data shows that including CO₂ from countries once under colonial rule makes Britain one of world’s biggest historical emitters

The UK is responsible for almost twice as much global heating as previously thought when its colonial history is taken into account, analysis has revealed.

The UK’s domestic emissions account for 3% of total world emissions dating back to 1850. But when responsibility for emissions in countries once under the British empire’s rule is given to the UK, the figure rises to more than 5%.