Major Cuts, Serious Commitment

January 18, 2004 – Vol.8 No.43

MAJOR CUTS, SERIOUS COMMITMENT.

In a draft plan open for consultation, the UK government has announced that it would exceed its Kyoto commitment by cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2010. Under the treaty that is not in effect, the U.K. would have to cut emissions by 12.5 percent by that time.

Already the nation has cut emissions by about eight percent. The first phase of the 20 percent reduction would go into effect between 2005 and 2007 with a 16.3 percent reduction.

The National Allocations Plan for the emissions cut, as put forth jointly by the Department Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), will include trading of emissions certificates to meet the goals. Visit DTI at http://www.dti.gov.uk/ and DEFRA at http:/www.defra.gov.uk/ .