Carbon action plan lays down Whitehall deadlines

10 March 2011

A cross-Government action plan on climate change sets strict actions and deadlines for Whitehall.

The new Carbon Plan sets out what has to happen and by when if the Government is to live up to its green ambitions, meet tough domestic carbon targets and encourage greater action internationally. It is focused on the jobs and economic opportunities of the low carbon economy and on policies that will help insulate Britain from future energy price shocks.
The draft Plan highlights three key changes that will be required across the UK economy, including in the way electricity is generated, in the way homes and businesses are heated and in the way people travel. The document details a range of deadlines and actions that a number of Government departments will have to meet. These include:
April 2011: HMT legislating to create a floor in the carbon price
May 2012: DECC to award the contract for the first UK Carbon Capture and Storage demonstration by end of this year and identify further demonstration projects
May 2013: The Department for Business to get the Green Investment Bank operational by September 2012 with the first annual data released on the funds in and size of investments made by the Bank by
June 2011: DFT to develop a nationwide strategy to promote the installation of electric vehicle infrastructure
May 2011: DECC to lead in reducing central government’s emissions by 10% in twelve months with the deadline of
June 2012: Defra to launch a pilot project to develop and trial methods for delivering integrated environmental advice for farmers, including on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The entire public sector is working together to deliver the low carbon economy and local government in particular has a vital role to play in harnessing the enthusiasm that exists at the local level for tackling climate change. To enable local councils the opportunity to take the lead in reducing emissions Chris Huhne will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding which will set out how DECC and the Local Government Group will work together to help and encourage all councils to take firm action to reduce the carbon emissions from their own estate and operations; reduce carbon emissions from homes, businesses and transport infrastructure, creating more, appropriate renewable energy generation, using council influence and powers; and participate in national carbon reduction initiatives at the local level, particularly the roll out of the Green Deal, smart metering and renewable energy deployment.
　