§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on the steps to be taken to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050; [131068]
(2) if she will make a statement on implementation of the energy policy of cutting emissions of carbon dioxide by 60 per cent. by 2050. [131069]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Government has set a domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010. The policy framework for delivering this goal is set out in the UK Climate Change programme.
In the Energy White Paper, we accepted the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's (RCEP) recommendation that the UK should put itself on a path towards a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of some 60 per cent. from current levels by about 2050. The Energy White Paper sets out long-term strategies and shorter-term policies to put us on this path. The Sustainable Energy Policy Network comprising units from Central Government, energy regulators, devolved administrations and key delivery organisations will ensure that these goals and policies are delivered. Part of this is a cross governmental network reporting to a Ministerial Committee co-chaired by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the 576W Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Further details of the implementation plans are set out on SEPN's website http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/index.shtml.
To put ourselves on course to cut the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050, we will need to achieve cuts of around 15–25 million tonnes of carbon (MtC) by 2020 in addition to the carbon savings from existing policies including the Climate Change Programme. The actual measures needed to reach this goal will be shaped by economic and technological developments. However, in reducing carbon dioxide emissions the government's priority is to strengthen renewables and energy efficiency.