Colleagues might be interested in the general thrust of the RCEP 
report towards MUCH more ambitious targets for energy and CO2 
reductions ...    David

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent:      	Fri, 16 Jun 2000 15:37:38 +0100
From:           	"Toby Cooley" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:        	DETR PRESS RELEASE ROYAL COMMISSION REPORT

MEACHER COMMENTS ON ROYAL COMMISSION REPORT

Environment Minister, Michael Meacher, commented today on the 
publication of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's 
(RCEP) twenty second report, 'Energy - The Changing Climate'.  
He said:  

    "The RCEP is right to highlight how enormous the challenge of
    climate change really is.  We must rise to this, but cannot do
    so alone.  The targets agreed at Kyoto are an essential first
    step and show that the international community is taking the
    problem seriously.  And we have shown that the UK is prepared to
    go even further, through our domestic goal of cutting emissions
    by 20% by 2010.  

    "But in the longer term, the RCEP report highlights the need for
    making even deeper cuts in emissions, and some of the challenges
    this presents, particularly for energy policy.  Our draft
    Climate Change Programme, published in March, aims to put us on
    the right path to this lower carbon future.  

    "At present we are assessing some 275 detailed responses to the
    draft programme, and will publish our final programme in the
    autumn.  We welcome the RCEP's contribution to the discussion on
    climate change and its valuable focus on the long term. None of
    us can afford to underestimate the challenge that lies ahead."  

NOTES FOR EDITORS  
1. At Kyoto in December 1997, developed countries agreed to 
reduce emissions of a basket of greenhouse gases to 5.2% below 
1990 levels over the period 2008-2012. The six gases covered by 
this legally binding target are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous 
oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur 
hexafluoride.  

2. The European Community agreed jointly to an 8% reduction at 
Kyoto. In June 1998, under the UK Presidency, this target was 
shared out between Member States, with the UK agreeing to a 
reduction of 12.5%. The UK Government has also set a separate 
domestic goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20% below 
1990 levels by 2010.  

3. The Government published a draft climate change programme in 
March 2000, which showed how the UK plans to deliver its Kyoto 
target and move towards 20% domestic goal. This includes 
quantified measures, which could reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions to 21.5% below 1990 levels in 2010, and CO2 emissions 
to -17.5%. Other unquantified measures will deliver further 
reductions and could reduce CO2 emissions to -20%. A final 
climate change programme will be published in the autumn.  

4. The UK will be one of the few developed countries to meet the 
Rio target to return emissions to 1990 levels by 2000 - greenhouse 
gas emissions were 8.5% below 1990 levels in 1998.  

5. The Government has already introduced a range of measures to 
cut greenhouse gas emissions, including :  

= the climate change levy; we are negotiating agreements with 
energy intensive sectors to meet challenging targets; and we will 
be giving extra money for improving business energy efficiency  - 
up to £150 million in 2001;  

=  developing, in collaboration with business, a domestic carbon 
emissions trading scheme to allow business to reduce emissions 
more cost effectively.  

=  a new target to increase the proportion of electricity provided by 
renewable sources to 10% by 2010, subject to the cost to 
consumers being acceptable;  

= a new target to double the capacity of good quality combined 
heat and power by 2010 to at least 10,000 MW.  

= supporting agreements between the European Commission and 
the car manufacturers to improve the fuel efficiency of new cars by 
at least 25% by 2008;  

= a new integrated transport policy to cut congestion and pollution; 

= changes to transport taxation that will stimulate fuel efficiency.  

= consulting on a new energy efficiency standards of performance 
requiring electricity and gas suppliers to help their domestic 
consumers, particularly the elderly and those on low incomes, to 
save energy and cut their fuel bills;  

= giving more money to programmes which will help vulnerable 
householders to be more energy efficient, save money and live in 
warmer homes, for example, a New Home Energy Efficiency 
Scheme in England.  

= A new waste strategy to reduce our reliance on landfill and to cut 
methane emissions.  

= Proposals aimed at cutting CO2 emissions from new houses by 
up to a quarter and saving householders as much as 25 per cent 
on energy bills (published yesterday 15 June 2000). The proposals 
raised building energy performance standards in the Building 
Regulations.   

6. Copies of draft UK climate change programme and free-standing 
summary available from DETR Free Literature, PO Box No 236, 
Wetherby S3 7NB, tel 0870-1226-236, fax 0870 1226 237. They are 
also available on the DETR web site : http://www.detr.gov.uk   

Press Enquiries 020 7944 3041; out of hours 020 7944 5925/5945; 
E-mail: [log in to unmask]  Public Enquiries: 020 7944 3000; 
E-mail contacts: www.detr.gov.uk/email.htm  
DETR website - http://www.detr.gov.uk  

====================== From ====================
David Somervell, Energy and Environmental Manager
Edinburgh University Estates and Buildings Works Division
11 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh  EH1 1NP, Scotland UK
0131 650 2073 Fax 650 9346 Email [log in to unmask]
Environmental Agenda @ http://www.cecs.ed.ac.uk/greeninfo/
Estates and Buildings @ http://www.estates.ed.ac.uk/


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