UK group reviews climate-change policies

March 28, 2005
Energy efficiency is the fastest way of cutting carbon emissions and mitigating climate change but is not on the agenda of many policy-makers worldwide, a meeting of UK energy professionals concluded.

By OGJ editors

HOUSTON, Mar. 28 -- Energy efficiency is the fastest way of cutting carbon emissions and mitigating climate change but is not on the agenda of many policy-makers worldwide, a meeting of UK energy professionals concluded.

During a February review of the UK government's climate change program, the group called for stable and consistent energy policies globally. The Energy Institute hosted the meeting along with the UK Department of Trade and Industry and the UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

"Delivering results was a recurring theme," said a report on the meeting that was submitted to the DEFRA. "The concern was that, looking inwards to the UK, there is a lack of political will to achieve demanding goals. Some participants took the view that it will simply not happen without political commitment."

Policy-makers focusing on climate change need to look beyond 2008-12, participants said. They emphasized the need for a long-term strategy, saying that the practice of setting energy policy for the next 5 years could hinder long-term policy development.

The policy debate should look beyond the Kyoto Treaty on Climate Change, the group said. Members said they believe that debate should concentrate on technology transfer issues, policies that can involve the US, and the acceptance of emissions-allowance targets by developing countries.

Kyoto became effective for participating countries on Feb. 16 (OGJ Online, Feb. 25, 2005). A Kyoto trading system for greenhouse emission credits is to start in 2008, while the European Union Emissions Trading System, which seeks to establish an overall European approach, took effect Jan. 1. Twenty-one countries are involved in the EU ETS.

"It is still a scheme which, for the moment, is bounded by uncertainties," the report said.