UK official figures show that emission of greenhouse gases dropped by dropped by around 9.8 per cent in the country as the recession hit industries hard.

Emissions of the basket of six greenhouse gases dropped across all areas. Energy supply sector reported a drop of 11 per cent in emission, emission among businesses, industrial processes and transport reduced by 11.8 per cent, 36.5 per cent and 4.2 per cent, respectively.

Households reported a drop of 5.8 per cent in greenhouse gages in 2009.

The drop in emissions of greenhouse gages were far higher than the previous year, when emission slipped by merely 2.0 per cent.

But, climate change secretary Chris Huhne said that it was time for kowtowing as emission were down due to a slump in economy.

Commenting on the figures, Huhne said, “Yes, emissions were down in 2009 but so was the economy, so this is no time for back-slapping.”

However, an increase in the use of nuclear power, instead of coal and gas, for generating electricity also dragged emissions down.

In the US also, carbon emissions dropped by 8.18 per cent in 2009 as compared with 2006.

But in developing countries China and India, emissions during 2009 jumped by 32.5 per cent and 24.9 per cent, respectively, when compared with figures compiled in 2006.