It's good news and bad for UK emissions reduction targets

The Government is set to miss its 2010 target of a 20% reduction from 1990 levels of CO₂ emissions, according to the Sustainable Development Commission.

In its report entitled UK Climate Change Programme: a policy audit, the Commission cites a lack of essential measures as the reason for the predicted shortfall. It states that: 'Emissions of CO₂ alone will fall by at most only 12·6% by 2010 and perhaps substantially less.' The Commission adds that efforts would need to be redoubled to achieve the target. The report says that the government's ability to reach the target on CO₂ is 'in grave peril'.

However, the report does contain some good news. The Commission believes that the UK is on track to meet the lower Kyoto target.

This requires a 12·5% reduction in 'the basket of greenhouse gases' from 1990 levels over the period 2008-2012. The report states that this 'appears very likely to be achieved'.

The Commission also believes that although the current situation isn't ideal, there is no reason for the target to be abandoned. There is a recommendation that new policy measures are developed, and that ministers should act 'quickly and decisively to demonstrate international leadership'.

The forthcoming energy White Paper, due out in March, is seen as an opportunity for the government to get the UK back on track to meet its own emissions reduction targets.

The Commission comments: 'It is important to create a context in which businesses and individuals are aware of the true environmental and social costs of their actions and are motivated to reduce them.'