UK Says its CO2 Emissions Flat in 2005
Date: 01-Feb-07
Country: UK
Author: Jeremy Lovell
It said CO2 emissions dipped 0.1 percent from 2004 with domestic emissions down 4.6 percent but those from energy production up 0.9 percent and road transport up 0.4 percent.
"These figures show that the Government is still failing to tackle climate change. Carbon dioxide levels are higher than when Labour came to power, despite ... promising substantial cuts," said Friends of the Earth campaigner Mike Childs.
DEFRA said that net emissions of CO2 fell by 6.4 percent between 1990, the Kyoto Protocol's base year, and 2005 -- down to 554.2 million tonnes from 592.1 million.
Carbon dioxide accounts for 84 percent of the basket of six greenhouse gases measured by Kyoto -- methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.
DEFRA said that in total emissions of the six had dropped by 15.3 percent between 1990 and 2005, above the target of a 12.5 percent cut by the 2008-2012 period. The government has said it will achieve a cut of around 25 percent from 1990 by 2012.
Aviation emissions -- which are not covered by Kyoto -- rose over 7 percent on domestic flights and nearly 6 percent for international flights between 2004 and 2005.
TARGETS
Britain has set itself a target of cutting CO2 emissions alone by 20 percent by 2010 from 1990 levels but DEFRA's own figures showed it was only likely to achieve a 16.2 percent cut.
"The 2010 goal was always designed to be stretching," said Environment Minister David Miliband. "However, the CO2 emission figures make it very clear that we need to do much more to cut emissions."
Next month the government will publish a Climate Change Bill setting in law a 60 percent carbon dioxide cut by 2050.
But it is resisting pressure from environmental groups to set annual cut targets on the way to the 60 percent and has likewise rejected complaints that the end target itself is far too conservative.
However, lawmakers from all main parties have vowed to make major changes to the bill as it goes through parliament.
A major diplomatic move is under way to agree this year on a framework to extend and expand Kyoto when its first phase ends in 2012 -- with top level international meetings already scheduled for March, April, June and December.
There have also been several calls for a climate summit meeting of the G20 in September.
The United States rejected Kyoto in 2001 saying it would be economic suicide -- in part because it was not binding on booming emitters China and India.
But the US mood is changing and although President George W. Bush is not expected to make a major U-turn on the issue in his remaining time in office, contenders for office on both sides of the political divide are urging action.
A report by top international scientists on Friday is expected to say that world temperatures will rise by between 2.0 and 4.5 degrees Celsius by 2100, putting millions at risk from rising sea levels, floods, famines and violent weather.