Miscellaneous -
Global Warming 2
By Alex Kirby
The Environment Secretary, Margaret Beckett, held
out the prospect of a 60% cut in carbon dioxide
emissions by 2050. The UK has already made deeper
cuts in six gases than it promised to achieve.
But emissions by the US are projected to rise
massively on present trends. Mrs Beckett was
speaking at the launch of a United Nations report
on the UK's performance in cutting emissions. The
report, by the UN's Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC), said the UK had reduced
its greenhouse gases by 12.8% between 1990 and
2000, successfully uncoupling economic growth
from energy and emissions intensity.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, the international
agreement on tackling climate change, the UK is
committed to cuts of 12.5% in the 1990 levels of
the six main greenhouse gases by between 2008 and
2012. The government has also promised to cut
emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the main
greenhouse gas produced by human activities, to
20% below 1990 levels by 2010. Mrs Beckett said,
"We have made significant reductions in
emissions and now aim to go much further to get
us on the path of a 60% cut in CO2 emissions by
2050. And on the path to that, we remain
committed to our domestic goal of carbon
emissions going down by 20% by 2010."
Many scientists say CO2 cuts of about 60% by
mid-century will be needed to reduce the human
impact on the climate to tolerable levels. A
government advisory body, the Sustainable
Development Commission, said in February it
thought the UK would "fall well short"
of cutting CO2 by 20% by 2010. The commission,
which is chaired by the environmental campaigner
Jonathon Porritt, said, "The UK is unlikely
to achieve even two-thirds of that reduction, and
maybe less than half." The UNFCCC says the
UK has "succeeded remarkably" in
cutting emissions by 12.8% already, and has made
"commendable progress".
But it released projections for the probable
emissions by 2010, on present trends, by 30 Kyoto
signatories. Only 12, it says, look likely to
achieve cuts. Those projected to record increases
include the US, likely as things stand to be
emitting 32.4% more of the six gases. The US
produces about a quarter of the world's
greenhouse emissions. Two years ago it said it
would not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. But both Mrs
Beckett and UNFCCC officials said the US was a
loyal and active supporter of the convention, and
was taking steps outside the protocol to reduce
its emissions.
The report said the UK still faced challenges in
addressing climate change, including the role of
renewable energy, the "uncertain
future" of nuclear power, and growing
emissions from transport. Friends of the Earth
said the government should not be complacent. It
said, "Department for Transport statistics
show car traffic levels on Britain's roads were
3% higher in 2002 than in 2001. Emission
increases caused by growing air travel are not
included in the UN's assessment, and cuts in
emissions from the 'dash for gas' in the early
1990s have been partly eroded by the greater use
of coal under Labour."
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