Who first started burning fossil fuels?

Carbon dating

Did burning fossil fuels begin with the industrial revolution, or is there someone else from whom we could claim reparations for carbon emissions?

— Artefacts made from coal and dated to 4000 bc have been uncovered in the Shenyang province of north-eastern China, with a formalised industry using coal for copper-smelting in operation by 1000 bc. In Britain, coal has been traced to bronze-age funeral pyres lit prior to 2000 bc. The Romans began mining for coal in the Midlands, and the first deep coal mine was opened in Ashby de la Zouch around 1450 ad. The earliest-known oil product is asphalt used in the construction of the walls of Babylon c. 2000 ad. China probably started using oil as a fuel in around 400 bc.

Big smoke

Which countries have the highest cumulative carbon emissions since 1750 (in billions of tonnes)?

US 417

China 236

Russia 115

Germany 93

UK 78

Japan 66

India 54

France 39

Canada 34

Ukraine 31

Source: ourworldindata.org

Who’s in care?

Which children go into care in England?

– 49% are girls and 51% boys. Children of lone parents account for 26% of the overall child population but account for 50% of those going into care. Children living in households of five or more people are also more likely to go into care – they account for 35% of the child population but 42% of those who go into care.

– Children who are ‘deprived in at least one dimension’ are far more likely to end up in care: they account for 50% of the child population but 81% of those going into care.

– Children of black African/Caribbean or black British parents are most likely to end up in care: they account for 4% of the child population but 9% of those going into care.

Source: Office for National Statistics

Taxing question

Which taxes contributed the most towards the government’s total tax take in 2021/22 of £916 billion?

Income tax £228 bn

National insurance contributions £161 bn

VAT £143 bn

Corporation tax £66 bn

Capital taxes £41 bn

Council tax £40 bn

Fuel duty £26 bn

Tobacco/alcohol duties £23 bn

Business rates £22 bn