European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Low Carbon UK?

by In Wales
Wed Jul 15th, 2009 at 08:51:11 AM EST

Ed Miliband has unveiled the government's plan to cut carbon emissions by a third by 2020.

The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan white paper set out a range of proposals designed to secure the promised cuts, with three different phases of reduction between 2008-12, 2013-17 and 2018-22.
Each government department will be set individual carbon reduction targets.
Mr Miliband's department intends to get low carbon buses onto the roads in the next two years, and to provide new funding for electric cars.
But he stressed that the most important reductions in carbon emissions would come through reductions in the generation and use of energy.

The publication of proposals around nuclear power will be left until the autumn, along with proposals for a full carbon capture project.

The target he has set commits the government to obtaining 40 per cent of electricity from low carbon energy by 2020. Mr Miliband expected the number of jobs to be created by the scheme to hit 400,000.
There will be more funding for smart grids and smart meters will be provided to millions of homes by 2020.
There were also proposals for communities and individuals to generate their own renewable power and sell it back to the grid.

The Committee on Climate Change provides independent advice to the Government on creating a low carbon economy and reports and audits can be found on their website. Their first progress report is due for publication in October and will look at progress made towards lowering carbon emission and the impact that the recession has had on meeting the carbon budgets.

The Telegraph unhelpfully scaremongers on energy costs:

On Wednesday Mr Miliband acknowledged that low-carbon energy would be more expensive for consumers, but pointed out that high-carbon fuels like coal and gas could also be expected to get more expensive because of increased demand from China and India.

The Low Carbon Economy website is useful for resources and information on low carbon solutions and opportunities, and their work has been acknowledged by the Government.

The TUC welcomes the Government proposals, keeping an eye out on the potential of the green economy for providing new jobs with sustainable growth:

'If UK companies are to compete successfully with the best of the rest of the world, there is no alternative other than for them to become the best in the new low carbon technologies and they will need a highly skilled workforce to do so.
'With Government help to re-train, many of the thousands of workers who have recently lost their jobs in traditional manufacturing will be able to take up new highly skilled posts in the new, greener firms, and become part of the transition to a new style, low carbon economy.'

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Low Carbon UK? | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Low Carbon UK? (none / 1)

I can't seem to find the actual white paper just yet but will keep a look out.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Wed Jul 15th, 2009 at 08:51:49 AM EST

Claverton Energy Group (none / 1)

The discussion amongst varied experts in the UK leading up to millband's plan was interesting (and entertaining). Chris Cook, do you have the ability to post a link for any energy professionals here to follow the Claverton discussion? I'm swamped today.

(Then why are you reading In Wales' diary? Ed.)

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Wed Jul 15th, 2009 at 09:05:42 AM EST

Re: Low Carbon UK? (none / 1)

unless humankind puts on the brakes very quickly and aggressively (i.e. global reductions of 80% by 2050), we face a high probability of driving climate beyond a 2°C threshold

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/04/hit-the-brakes-hard/

by asdf on Wed Jul 15th, 2009 at 09:48:38 AM EST

Re: Low Carbon UK? (none / 1)

Is this the greening of Britain white paper we were promised?

I'd like to see more detail about the proposals for communities and individuals - hopefully something more comprehensive than 'You will be allowed to generate power and sell it to the grid.'

European Tribune - Comments - Low Carbon UK?

'With Government help to re-train, many of the thousands of workers who have recently lost their jobs in traditional manufacturing will be able to take up new highly skilled posts in the new, greener firms, and become part of the transition to a new style, low carbon economy.'

Sounds good. Is retraining actually in the proposals?

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Jul 15th, 2009 at 10:49:51 AM EST

Re: Low Carbon UK? (none / 0)

Yes, it is that white paper, although I haven't had sight of the actual document yet. I'm hoping it will utilise social enterprise, there are some fantastic examples of social enterprises that have worked at community level on green projects and renewable energy generation.

There are already re-training packages and funding available - the TUC's policy is that the Government needs to direct this towards reskilling people within the green economy. Problem is that the skills training as needed, doesn't exactly exist.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Wed Jul 15th, 2009 at 01:00:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

CBI (none / 1)

CBI urges shift to nuclear from wind power
Labour's energy policy is weakening the country's energy security and making it harder to cut carbon dioxide emissions because of an excessive reliance on wind power, the CBI will say this morning.
In a study of Britain's energy supplies published in advance of the government's latest plans for tackling the threat of climate change, which will be set out on Wednesday, the employers' organisation has urged a shift of strategy away from wind in favour of nuclear power.
John Cridland, the CBI's deputy director-general, said: "The government is pitching too high on what they are claiming can be obtained from wind, [which] will crowd out other low-carbon energy sources." He said that it could give Britain "the most volatile energy prices in Europe".
The CBI says it accepts the need for a steep increase in wind power but would set a lower limit on that expansion than the government.
With "business as usual" policies, it warns, Britain will see rapid growth both in wind power and in new gas-fired power stations - needed when the wind is not blowing.
That will make the country more dependent on imported gas, from Russia and elsewhere, more exposed to volatile commodity prices, and less able to cut the CO 2 emissions produced by burning fossil fuels.
Instead, the CBI wants more help for investment in new nuclear reactors and "clean coal" power stations that can capture and store emissions.

The jump from needing gas-fire power plants to actually needing lots of gas is made unconsciously, but is completely wrong.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Wed Jul 15th, 2009 at 03:34:32 PM EST

Re: CBI (none / 0)

They are also completely wrongin their implication that gas-fired power plants would be any less needed with nuclear: you still need a source for regulated and peak power... (I note that for France, regulation is partially 'done' by export.)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Thu Jul 16th, 2009 at 05:02:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Low Carbon UK? | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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