Time for action

News that the UK is way off its target of a 20% cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010 has stoked the argument between environmentalists and big business as to who should be taking the responsibility.

Industry feels it has already borne the brunt of Tony Blair's mission to lead the fight against global warming, while groups such as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace are calling for harsher measures on business and industry to make a real impact on emission levels.

Greenpeace has already withdrawn its support for the government's approach, claiming that there has been little action to back up the Prime Minister's tough talk on climate change. The group has even published a paper titled Ten steps that Tony Blair must take on climate change if he is to regain the trust of environmentalists.

Near the top of the list are two demands concerning the construction industry. First is a call for the government to increase its support for chp generation, stating that all new housing development, public and commercial buildings should be required to include chp plants for heating, hot water and electricity. There is also a demand that all new buildings be built to zero emission standards. Greenpeace's UK director Stephen Tindale says: "All new buildings have to be zero emissions and that requires standing up to the construction industry. They (the government) also need to get tough with business on emissions trading and stop offering them concessions."

The CBI, however, feels that business has already done more than its fair share on climate change. John Cridland, CBI deputy director says: "The environmental lobby is wrong to put business in the dock on the environment. British business has done more than anybody else to tackle climate change. The government has done little to place any of the burden on consumers. So far it has been business that has taken the pain."

Cridland also argues that business has been responsible for the development of policies that are helping to solve the problem, such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme that came into operation on 1 January. "The EU scheme follows the UK emissions trading scheme developed by the CBI and British companies," he says.

With the consultation period now underway on the UK Climate Change Programme Review, it looks certain that a new raft of measures designed to further reduce emissions will come into force. It is just as certain that whatever is promised by the government will be treated with suspicion by environmentalists who have heard Tony Blair make positive noises before on climate change, only to be disappointed with the results. Tindale says: "I fear we are going to get more platitudes about consultation and the need to work together. There has been endless talk and consultation. Overall it is a lamentable record of rhetoric and no delivery."

This is an image the prime minister will be keen to shed. He has already stated that climate change will be a high priority during his G8 presidency this year. Failure to meet his targets at home has already undermined this stance and he has previously admitted that making progress on climate change while presiding over the G8 could depend on his record on the issue at home.

This points to more 'pain' for business as the government looks to improve its performance. Emissions trading is already seen by opponents of the initiative as a get out clause for industry to continue emitting CO2 at high levels and the government has already been criticised for asking the European Commission to increase Britain's overall cap under the scheme that would enable businesses to meet targets more comfortably.

It is therefore likely that industry will face tougher measures in the near future if the government is serious about making the UK an example for the rest of the world to follow.