The UK has come out with a white paper on energy and climate. At the heart of the government's target is the plan to "transform the country into a cleaner, greener and more prosperous place to live."
The Low Carbon Transition Plan details how the country will meet the cut in emissions set out in the budget of 34 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020. A 21 per cent reduction has already been delivered, equivalent to cutting emissions entirely from four cities the size of London. The plan envisages a major shift in almost all sectors ranging from power generation to electric cars to home insulation.
According to the government, the Transition Plan is the most systematic response to climate change of any major developed economy, and sets the standard for others in the run up to crucial global climate talks in Copenhagen in December.
The government plans to create more than 1.2 million green jobs by 2020. More than 1.5 million households will be supported to produce their own clean energy and seven million homes will benefit from whole house makeovers. Every government department will be required to contribute to carbon emissions cut.
Around 40 per cent of electricity will be from low carbon sources, from renewables, nuclear and clean coal. Also, the government plans to import half the amount of gas that it otherwise would. The average new car will emit 40 per cent less carbon than now.
The white paper details plans for a Pay as You Save scheme which will remove the upfront cost barrier for many homeowners in the installation of green energy measures which can ultimately reduce energy bills.
A new office will be launched for Renewable Energy Deployment in the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to augment the growth of renewables in the country.
'Lack of clarity'
While welcoming the new Pay as You Save scheme, WWF expressed disappointment over lack of clarity on how the scheme will be rolled out fast enough to the 26 million homes in the UK.
The government needs to roll out Pay as You Save immediately if it is serious about meeting its carbon budgets, said the conservation body. Neither homeowners nor the environment can afford an endless round of trials and consultations. The country must have definitive targets for reducing emissions from the existing stock supported by a range of carrots and sticks, said WWF.
WWF said the UK needs to show leadership by planning for success in Copenhagen, by setting out a clear aim to meet or better the Climate Change Committee's recommended 42 per cent cut in emissions now, instead of scraping by with 34 per cent, a figure at the bottom of the EU's proposed emissions cuts.
The Climate Change Committee has made it quite clear that the power sector, currently the UK’s single biggest polluter, needs to be decarbonised by 2030. WWF welcomed the government taking reserve powers over the Grid, the new duty on Ofgem, and the widening of the options on the Severn Barrage.
Unfortunately, the government has failed to provide the incentives that will make investors turn away from traditional power sources like unabated coal and move towards low carbon, green energy.
The Low Carbon Transition Plan details how the country will meet the cut in emissions set out in the budget of 34 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020. A 21 per cent reduction has already been delivered, equivalent to cutting emissions entirely from four cities the size of London. The plan envisages a major shift in almost all sectors ranging from power generation to electric cars to home insulation.
According to the government, the Transition Plan is the most systematic response to climate change of any major developed economy, and sets the standard for others in the run up to crucial global climate talks in Copenhagen in December.
The government plans to create more than 1.2 million green jobs by 2020. More than 1.5 million households will be supported to produce their own clean energy and seven million homes will benefit from whole house makeovers. Every government department will be required to contribute to carbon emissions cut.
Around 40 per cent of electricity will be from low carbon sources, from renewables, nuclear and clean coal. Also, the government plans to import half the amount of gas that it otherwise would. The average new car will emit 40 per cent less carbon than now.
The white paper details plans for a Pay as You Save scheme which will remove the upfront cost barrier for many homeowners in the installation of green energy measures which can ultimately reduce energy bills.
A new office will be launched for Renewable Energy Deployment in the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to augment the growth of renewables in the country.
'Lack of clarity'
While welcoming the new Pay as You Save scheme, WWF expressed disappointment over lack of clarity on how the scheme will be rolled out fast enough to the 26 million homes in the UK.
The government needs to roll out Pay as You Save immediately if it is serious about meeting its carbon budgets, said the conservation body. Neither homeowners nor the environment can afford an endless round of trials and consultations. The country must have definitive targets for reducing emissions from the existing stock supported by a range of carrots and sticks, said WWF.
WWF said the UK needs to show leadership by planning for success in Copenhagen, by setting out a clear aim to meet or better the Climate Change Committee's recommended 42 per cent cut in emissions now, instead of scraping by with 34 per cent, a figure at the bottom of the EU's proposed emissions cuts.
The Climate Change Committee has made it quite clear that the power sector, currently the UK’s single biggest polluter, needs to be decarbonised by 2030. WWF welcomed the government taking reserve powers over the Grid, the new duty on Ofgem, and the widening of the options on the Severn Barrage.
Unfortunately, the government has failed to provide the incentives that will make investors turn away from traditional power sources like unabated coal and move towards low carbon, green energy.
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