Background

The world faces challenges that will impact on business and citizens. International Governments are working towards carbon reduction and long term, sustainable goals. The UK Government is taking measures such as the Renewables Obligation, Climate Change Levy and the Carbon reduction Commitment to ensure delivery of reductions in our greenhouse gas emissions. The UK has led the way internationally on climate change and has pushed to centre global emissions as a crucial issue on the international agenda.

This is a multi faceted issue. UK Government targets require us to reduce our CO2 emissions by at least 20 per cent by 2020, while we increase our production of renewable energy; develop energy efficient housing and ensure energy prices are lower for consumers and protect a quarter of a million homes from flooding over the next three years.

The Government’s key climate change initiatives have been summarized by ACT ON C02 and include:

1. Protect the public from immediate risk:
Climate change is already happening in the UK and the Government has a number of initiatives in place to ensure the public is protected from immediate risk

2. Preparing the public for the future:
The new UK Climate Projections is the most comprehensive report into the effects of climate change on the UK ever produced. It will be used to help plan for a future with a changing climate

3. Limited the severity of climate change through the international agreement:
To limit global temperature increases to less than two degrees, and so avoid the most dangerous effects of climate change, the Government is leading international efforts to achieve a new international climate agreement in Copenhagen this December.

4. Build a low carbon UK:
To play our part in reducing global emissions, Britain needs to become a low-carbon country. The Government published the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan White Paper on 15 July 2009, setting out how we will meet our carbon budgets while maintaining energy security, creating jobs and economic opportunities for UK firms, and protecting the most vulnerable sectors of our society.

5. Supporting Individuals Communities and Business to play their part:
Everyone has a role to play in tackling climate change, from reducing their own emissions to planning for adaptation