Government publishes plan to tackle emissions

The government has announced a new programme aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Climate Change Programme is expected to reduce the UK's emissions of greenhouse gases to 23-25% below base year levels and reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions to 15-18% below 1990 levels by 2010. The programme also aims to reduce carbon emissions by around 7-12 megatons in four years time.

However, the government had set a domestic target of a 20% reduction by 2010.

Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett said: "This ambitious programme sets out our plans for tackling climate change at global, national and individual level. All three are essential. Climate change is a global problem that needs global solutions. But we must act now to meet our commitments. This programme contains a package of far-reaching measures that will affect all the major sectors and sources of UK emissions.

"But it is not the last word. There is more that government can and will do to meet the target. Further contributions could be made by the Energy Review, a review of measures to improve the sustainability of existing building and other policies over the coming years."

The measures to reduce emissions include: a stricter emissions cap for industry; encouraging the uptake of biofuels in petrol; tighter building regulations; measures to improve household energy efficiency; increased levels of microgeneration; and a renewed emphasis on encouraging and enabling the general public, businesses and public authorities to help achieve the government's targets.

However, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said that the review was a "failure". He said: "This is much bigger than a sidelined Labour manifesto pledge and a Whitehall turf-war. The Prime Minister must call his ministers to account. He must explain to the nation how he will get Britain back on target to reduce climate change."

(KMcA/SP)