Info!
UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
UPDATED 1 Sept: The EI library in London is temporarily closed to the public, as a precautionary measure in light of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. The Knowledge Service will still be answering email queries via email , or via live chats during working hours (09:15-17:00 GMT). Our e-library is always open for members here: eLibrary , for full-text access to over 200 e-books and millions of articles. Thank you for your patience.
UK Government outlines new plans to tackle climate change
The government has set out its response to recent recommendations from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) with plans to do more to tackle climate change and an ambitious plan to accelerate the decarbonisation of transport.
The government’s new Environment Bill outlines proposals to strengthen standards of environmental protection post-Brexit, with the establishment of a new public body – the Office for Environmental Protection – to hold government and other public bodies to account on their environmental obligations, including on climate change.
Since committing to end the UK’s contribution to climate change entirely by 2050, the government says it has announced investment of around £2bn in low carbon technologies to lead the race in developing solutions to tackle climate change. And, recognising the need to scale up efforts in the transport industry, the UK’s first Transport Decarbonisation Plan has been announced to bring together a programme of coordinated action needed to end the UK’s transport emissions by 2050.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘From driving our cars, to catching a train or taking a flight abroad, it is crucial that we ensure transport is as environmentally friendly as possible. This is why, as well as agreeing to the CCC’s recommendation on net zero by 2050, we have launched this ground-breaking plan to achieve net zero emissions across every single mode of transport.’
Due to be complete next year, the plan will set out in detail what government, business and society will need to do to deliver the significant emissions reduction needed from all modes of transport.
Aside from the transport sector, other new measures announced by the government include:
- proposals to improve commercial buildings in the private rented sector, including plans to improve the energy performance of rented commercial buildings;
- a consultation in 2020 on introducing mandatory in-use energy performance ratings for business buildings;
- a consultation on proposals to make it simpler for largescale energy storage facilities to obtain planning permission; and
- an endorsement of the recommendations of the Energy Data Taskforce, unlocking the potential of data sharing across the energy system.
News Item details
Journal title: Energy World
Countries: UK -
Organisation: Committee on Climate Change|HM Government
Subjects: Policy and Governance, Transport, Climate change, Decarbonisation, Net zero
