Tel: 03450 450 500
Email: sustainability@scambs.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window)
About these pages
- The Low-Carbon Living pages have just been launched and are currently under review. You are welcome to send your comments to sustainability@scambs.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window)
Our Partners
- South Cambridgeshire's Environment Group
Help address the issues and monitor the progress of the Community Strategy, which contains a series of actions to help improve the quality of life across the district and that tackle climate change.
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Climate Change Network
A cross-sectoral partnership providing support to public and private sector organisations as well as local communities seeking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
- South Cambridgeshire Strategic Partnership
The South Cambridgeshire Strategic Partnership (or LSP: Local Strategic Partnership) is a partnership between the council and various partners to work together towards achieving economic, environmental and social standards for the district.
2.1 THE POLITICAL CONTEXT
In this section:
- UK Emissions reduction goals
- Scope for reaching our targets
- Programs and obligations
- The role of local authorities
UK Emissions Reduction Goals
In 2006, the UK's total greenhouse gas emissions were estimated to be 652.3 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (0.5% lower than in 2005), this excludes emissions from international aviation and shipping. The Government has accepted that, unless these emissions are very significantly reduced, the consequences are likely to prove costly in human, financial and environmental terms.
It is therefore seeking to manage the transition from a 'high carbon' to a 'low carbon' economy by cutting the UK's emissions by at least 60% as compared with 1990 levels by 2050.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, the UK has agreed a legally binding target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5% below 1990 levels by 2012. We should achieve this target - although much of this gain has been incidental as a consequence of a progressive shift to using natural gas.
The UK also has the goal of reducing domestic CO2 emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010.
Under the UK Climate Change Bill, the target is to reduce our total CO2 emissions by at least 60% below 1990 levels by 2050.
The UK CO2 emissions account for 2% of global man-made emissions.
Further information on targets:
The Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol (This link will open in a new window) is an agreement adopted in 1997 (entered into force in 2005) by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases emissions that cause climate change in all member countries.
UK Climate Change Act 2008
UK Climate Change Act 2008 (This link will open in a new window) makes the UK the first country in the world to have a legally binding long-term framework to cut carbon emissions. It also creates a framework for building the UK's ability to adapt to climate change.
Energy White Paper
The latest Energy White Paper published in May 2007 (This link will open in a new window) sets out the Government's international and domestic energy strategy to tackle climate change by reducing CO2 emissions and to ensure secure, clean and affordable energy.
Further information on energy statistics:
Energy Trends
Energy Trends (This link will open in a new window) is BERR's (Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform) bulletin of statistics on energy in the United Kingdom.
Sustainable Development Strategy
The latest UK Government's sustainable development indicators (This link will open in a new window) include the climate change indicator and the aviation and shipping indicators.
National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI)
The NAEI (This link will open in a new window) compiles estimates of emissions to the atmosphere from UK sources such as cars, trucks, power stations and industrial plant.
