Government unveils Carbon Plan for emissions reductions to keep to 2050 pathway

Fri 02 December 2011 View all news

DECC has published the Government's Carbon Plan which sets out plans for achieving the emissions reductions committed to in the first four carbon budgets, on a pathway consistent with meeting the 2050 target. This publication brings together the Government's strategy to curb greenhouse gas emissions as well updating actions and milestones for the next five years. It replaces the draft Carbon Plan which was published in March 2011.

 

According to the Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne, the UK's progress against targets is so far "on track". The long-term goal of the plan is to achieve an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050.

The latest budget plan, which covers the period 2023 - 2027, was set in law in June 2011 and requires emissions to be cut by 50% on 1990 levels. It also sets out the proposals and policies for meeting the first four carbon budgets, which were first introduced in 2008.

Figures in the latest plan show that emissions from power stations have fallen by 25% since 1990 levels, while a quarter of electricity generation is now low carbon, as a result of 16% of the UK's electricity coming from nuclear power.

Transport emissions were found to be roughly the same, with emissions rising in the years up to 2007, which the Government has attributed to economic growth. However, the Plan says that the introduction of new technologies and increased use of biofuels is expected to help lower emissions.

Key action items in terms of transport in the near term include:

  • Completion of transposition of transport elements of the Renewable Energy Directive
  • Completion of transposition of greenhouse gas (GHG) savings requirements of the Fuel Quality Directive
  • Review of strategy to support transition from early ultra-low emission vehicle market to mass market
  • Push for early EU adoption of electric vehicle infrastructure standards
  • Establish (a) a National Chargepoint Registry that will allow chargepoint manufacturers and operators to make information on their infrastructure, including location, available in one place; and (b) a Central Whitelist that enables users of chargepoint networks to access chargepoints across the country
  • Release details on the second tranche of projects to be supported by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund
  • Launch of competition for low carbon trucks demonstration trial.
  • Release of details on the large projects to be supported by the Local Sustainable Transport Fund
  • Launch of competition for public gas refuelling infrastructure projects (for gas-fuelled trucks)
  • Review of progress from industry-led schemes to reduce fuel consumption and emissions from the freight sector and reconsider the case for government intervention
  • Decision on whether or not to include international aviation and shipping in UK carbon budgets and 2050 target
  • Provision of input into the European Commission’s ongoing review of the EU’s new car and van CO2 targets for 2020
  • Release of second round funding to successful bidders for Plugged-in Places pilots programme to encourage the establishment of electric vehicle recharging infrastructure
  • Provision of an update to the Plug-in Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy

Commenting on the plan, Mr Huhne said (quoted in EDIE) that it demonstrates the UK is "living up to our promise to show climate leadership", as well as showing the "gradual rebalancing of our economy away from carbon is achievable and, in the long run, highly desirable".

He added: "Every bit of progress we make is one more step away from import dependency, away from price volatility and from the emissions that threaten our way of life. Our national economic interest is to be found in a cost-effective transition to low carbon, to an economy that is more resilient, innovative and efficient."

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