§ Mr. LlwydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions by what percentage carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced since 1997. [135208]
§ Mr. MeacherUK carbon dioxide emissions are provisionally estimated to have been about the same in 1999 as in 1997, and around 7.5 per cent. lower than in 1990. This follows a strong downward trend between 1990 and 1997. The levelling of emissions between 1997 and 1999 reflects a modest growth in overall energy demand, slightly lower output from nuclear power stations and lower imports of electricity from France, balanced by continued fuel switching towards gas.
The draft UK climate change programme, published in March, sets out a package of policies and measures to continue reducing carbon dioxide emissions over the next decade. It estimated that quantified policies and measures could reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 17.5 per cent. below 1990 levels in 2010 and that other elements of the programme would reduce emissions further and could achieve the Government's 20 per cent. goal