Government concedes failure on emissions

The government has admitted that it will fail to reach its self-imposed target of a 20% cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. It has stated though, that the UK is set to go further than the legally-enforceable 12·5% reductions target below 1990 levels set by the Kyoto agreement and is on course to cut emissions by 14%.

Environment secretary Margaret Beckett admitted the failure last month as she launched a document highlighting areas in which the UK could improve its performance. “We are on track to go beyond our Kyoto target, as emissions of the key greenhouse gases have fallen significantly. However we will not, on the basis of current policies alone, achieve our ambitious 2010 domestic goal of a 20% cut in carbon dioxide emissions,” she said.

A review of the government’s UK Climate Change Programme highlighted the EU emissions trading scheme, hundreds of small energy efficient measures, the use of biomass as a renewable energy and more environmentally friendly transport methods as ways by which the UK could meet the 20% figure. The document will be out for consultation until March 2005. The news that Britain is off target has reinforced the calls from green lobbyists for the government to take a harder stance with emissions caused by industry and big business.

Beckett said: “We want to do more, and the consultation indicates the key areas where we believe more can be achieved. The review also shows our commitment to the existing programme of climate change measures, and we will be publishing a revised programme in the first half of 2005.”