Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance News
Government publishes carbon plan
The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister yesterday launched a cross-Government action plan on climate change.
The Carbon Plan, which is being initially published in draft ahead of a final version in the autumn, highlights three key changes that the Government says will be required across the UK economy, including:
• The way electricity is generated, where a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels and towards low carbon alternatives is needed – including renewable energy, new nuclear power and fossil fuel power stations fitted with carbon capture and storage;
• The way homes and businesses are heated, with a change needed in how well properties are insulated and away from gas boilers to low carbon alternatives, such as heat pumps;
• The way people travel, including greater use of public transport and substituting the need for some journeys, as well as reducing emissions from petrol and diesel engines and moving towards alternative technologies such as electric vehicles.
In a foreword to the document, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change write:
"This Carbon Plan sets out a vision of a changed Britain, powered by cleaner energy used more efficiently in our homes and businesses, with more secure energy supplies and more stable energy prices, and benefiting from the jobs and growth that a low carbon economy will bring.
“Becoming a low carbon economy will be one of the greatest changes our country has ever known. But it is a change for the better, for our economy, our society, and for the planet. This Carbon Plan shows how, together, we can make it happen."
Dr Neil Bentley, CBI Deputy Director-General, commented on the publication:
“Now the Government has set out the timeline for making the shift to a low-carbon economy, it must stick to it.
“Businesses need policy certainty and clarity to commit to low-carbon investment, but they still don’t know how key initiatives will work, including the new planning system and the Green Deal.
“If the Government is really serious about showing businesses that it wants to help them become more energy efficient, it should restore the revenue-recycling element of the Carbon Reduction Commitment in the Budget.”
