While empirical evidence suggests that the UK is achieving absolute decoupling for many air pollutants and carbon emissions, this does not hold true for all environmental resources and across all developed economies. Moreover, evidence shows that the decoupling in the UK is partly explained by shifts in the location of production, with many of the goods and services consumed in the UK now being produced in other countries. This highlights the importance of technology and innovation
in reducing environmental impacts, not just in the UK but globally, and the opportunities this presents for UK businesses and industries.