How much does the Yorkshire Dales National Park contribute to climate change?
During 2010, the English national park authorities commissioned a piece of work to identify the amount of greenhouse gases being emitted from each of the English national parks.
This combined an analysis of the most recent available information on carbon dioxide emissions with an assessment of the contribution of the other two most important greenhouse gases – methane and nitrous oxide
The results showed that the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is road transport. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that emissions from degraded peat on the moors may be an equally large source.
The largest source of methane and nitrous oxide is agricultural land use.
The relatively small population means that agriculture, forestry and other land uses are particularly important in determining the overall level of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions arising within the National Park area.
Overall, it is estimated that around 546,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) are emitted every year in the National Park.
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