The UK is on track to meet its first carbon budget, Energy and Climate Change Minister Joan Ruddock said today as the first ever annual emissions report under the carbon budgets system was presented to Parliament.
Under the Climate Change Act, the UK has to report annually to Parliament on progress in meeting its carbon budgets. The UK has to cut its emissions by at least 34% by 2020, and by at least 80% by 2050, below 1990 levels.
"Today’s emissions score card shows that the UK’s climate change policies are working and that we’re on track to meet our carbon targets.
"Since 1990, the UK’s emissions have been cut by 22%, which means we’ll more than meet the international commitments we made.
"We’re putting in place policies to make the low carbon transition by supporting investment in clean energy, in insulating homes and creating green jobs."
Taking into account the use of carbon units, the net UK carbon account in 2008 was 606.7 MtCO2e. This is 22% below ‘base year’ emissions, which were 777.8 MtCO2e.