Cutting down
David Kennedy, chief executive, Committee on Climate Change, on keeping emissions down.
“We should urgently increase the low carbon proportion of our energy supply, and reduce emissions from buildings and transport in order to contribute to tackling climate change, improving energy security of supply, and building a green economy. Local Government has an important role to play both in influencing the public and providing the services that people will need to live in a more sustainable manner.
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is an independent body set up under the Climate Change Act to advise government on tackling climate change. Specifically, the committee is required under the act to advise government on the appropriate level of carbon budgets (five year ceilings on UK emissions) and the 2050 emissions reduction target, measures to meet budgets, and to report to parliament on progress reducing emissions.
Based on a detailed scientific, technical and economic analysis, we recommended that an 80 per cent reduction in emissions of all greenhouse gases is required by 2050, and a 34 per cent reduction by 2020; together with deep emissions cuts in other developed countries, the increase in global mean temperature would be limited to around 2 degrees and the probability of dangerous climate change above 4 degrees would be kept very low (e.g. less than 1 per cent). The Government accepted this advice and legislated carbon budgets and the 80 per cent target.
However, there has been limited progress so far reducing UK emissions. In our first report to parliament on progress reducing emissions (October 2009), we reported that in the five years to 2008 average emission reductions were only around 0.5 per cent each year. Going forward, it is essential that emissions are reduced by six times this amount each year.
A step change in effort is therefore required.
Given the need to make substantial emissions cuts going forward, one key area for action is to move to low carbon forms of electricity generation such as renewables (e.g. wind generation), nuclear and clean coal. Moving to a clean electricity system will require action by government to provide investors in low carbon technologies with appropriate confidence that these will be viable. The power sector is particularly important, as the production of this cleaner electricity can be applied to all other sectors of the economy, for example, to heating and transport.
There are also steps that we can take to improve energy efficiency in homes and offices which will actually save us money on energy bills, keep us warmer, and cost very little to implement. We have
recommended that government – central and local - leads a transformation of our residential building stock, on a house by house, street by street basis, ensuring that millions more homes have adequate cavity wall, loft and solid wall insulation. We have estimated that there is the potential to reduce emissions in homes by 35 per cent by 2022.
Given that it is crucial for the public sector to reduce its own emissions to underpin government credibility in leading a wider emissions reduction programme, we have recommended that all cost effective energy efficiency improvement potential is addressed no later than 2018. The central government estate has established targets to reduce emissions in central government offices by 30 per cent in 2020 relative to 1999/2000, with the Department for Energy and Climate Change, for example, committing to reduce its buildings emissions by 10 per cent this year.
For businesses, we propose a range of money savings measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions including installing more efficient lighting and controls such as motion sensors and timers, turning computers off at night and optimising heating and air-conditioning.
There are also opportunities for development of new markets and employment opportunities. For example, the UK is currently 1st in the world for supplying offshore wind and the Carbon Trust has estimated that 70,000 new jobs could be created in this area. Other growth areas will be in nuclear industry, Carbon Capture and Storage, the production of low-carbon and electric vehicles, low carbon refurbishment, the financial services industry and consulting industries.
In transport, which is responsible for a quarter of the UK’s emissions, there are opportunities to improve the carbon efficiency of conventional cars as well as roll out electric vehicles. The committee has proposed that the UK should aim for up to 1.7 million electric cars and plug in hybrids on the road in 2020. A new battery charging infrastructure will be needed including charging points at home, at work, on streets, in supermarkets and car parks. Emissions in the transport sector could also be reduced through better planned journeys and greater use of public transport.
Achieving the necessary step change in emissions reductions will require strong leadership from government, putting in place a framework for delivery which local authorities, businesses, organisations and individuals can respond to.
In a world where carbon budgets are achieved we will meet more of our energy needs from low-carbon power, live in well insulated homes with energy efficient boiler and appliances. We will also work in energy efficient offices and drive more carbon efficient cars including hybrids and electric vehicles.
Taking action will enable us to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and to benefit from improved security of energy supply and air quality”.
