Despite government figures to the contrary, the UK's carbon footprint 'gets bigger'

The Government's claim that Britain is leading the world in cutting its carbon emissions has been challenged by scientists.

A new report from the University of Leeds shows the Government has failed to include the rising levels of greenhouse gases created by the goods it imports.

Government analysis claims that in 2012 carbon emissions were 194m tonnes lower than in 1990.

But the experts say these cuts have been outweighed by a rise of 280m tonnes associated with UK imports of goods from countries such as China and India. This means that the country’s carbon footprint has increased rather than decreased, they say.

The Government is fully aware that other nations are polluting on our behalf but won’t take full responsibility for the emissions we outsource.

• Professor John Barrett, lead author of a new report from Leeds University

More: What the Green Party has to say about the Lib-Lab-Con climate pledge

More: The final nail in the coffin for the greenest government ever?