Climate Change: The UK Programme 2006This programme sets out the Government's policies and priorities for action on climate change in the UK and internationally. The first section examines the nature and scale of the challenge posed by climate change. It describes the existing international framework for action, including the G8 and EU meetings and resulting plans of action. The Government intends to build on these developments, and also try to influence the rapidly growing economies of India, China, Brazil and others so that they evolve as low-carbon economies. The major part of the report is concerned with the UK's attempt to deliver the Kyoto Protocol target of reducing emissions of six greenhouse gases by 12.5 per cent below base year levels over the 2008-2012 period, and also the domestic goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010. Projections indicate that CO2 reduction by 2010 will only be some 10.6 per cent below the 1990 level. Sections on the UK emission inventory and projections, the strategy to reduce emissions, and the energy supply sector, are followed by chapters covering particular economic sectors: business; transport, domestic; agriculture and forestry; the public sector. Among policies outlined here are: encouragement of microgeneration and renewable sources of energy; investigation of carbon capture and storage; support for energy efficiency in business, local and central government; increase uptake of biofuels; include aviation in the emissions trading scheme for the EU from 2008; raise energy standards of new and refurbished buildings; introduce the Code for Sustainable Homes; strengthen consumer demand for energy efficiency. The Government also sets out its approach to encourage personal action, as citizens, consumers, motorists and business people. Provision of better information to the public, including an online service on the environmental impact of everyday products and services, will be supplemented by a plan for action on sustainable consumption by the end of 2006. |
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action adaptation additional agriculture assess base biomass Building Regulations carbon dioxide emissions carbon emissions carbon savings Carbon Trust cent below 1990 climate change levy Climate Change Programme CO₂ committed contribution costs currently Defra deliver domestic effect electricity emissions reductions emissions trading scheme encourage energy efficiency Energy Efficiency Commitment energy performance Energy Saving Trust energy supply ensure Environment environmental forestry and land framework fuel poverty funding gases global greenhouse gas emissions heat HFCs impacts of climate improve increase industry investment Kyoto Protocol land management landfill low carbon methane methane emissions microgeneration nitrous oxide Northern Ireland organisations partnership Plan potential projections public sector reduce emissions renewable energy Renewables Obligation role Scotland Scottish significant sources stakeholders Strategy sustainable development tackle climate change targets technologies tonnes transport UK emissions UK's UKCIP vehicles Wales waste Welsh Assembly Government