As Yazz famously (?) sang in 1988, the only way is up, and that certainly seems true of UK CO2 emissions …
Figures published by the DTI today show that UK CO2 emissions in 2006 rose 1.2% over 2005 levels, and are only down 5.3% over 1990 levels – compare that to the government’s target of a 20% reduction on 1990 levels by 2010. Emissions are now higher than at any other point during the current Labour administration.
The domestic sector was one of only two with an emissions reduction over 2005 (of 2.5%), but standby (pardon the pun) they are still up 3.4% over 1990 levels.
All the facts and figures can be found here.
So, do we need annual targets as part of the Climate Change Bill, or is the government record on long-term target setting (remember that target of 20% reduction on 1990 levels?) doing the trick? Get ready for them turning the national grid off in December 2010 …
… or support the FoE campaign for a strong Climate Change Bill here.