UK Carbon emission rise again

[Guest guest]

Britain's CO2 emissions have risen for a third successive year,

according to government figures, though overall greenhouse emissions

remained constant.

 

The CO2 rise of about a quarter of a percent between 2004 and 2005

has met with dismay from environmental groups.

 

The government says the rise was caused by increasing energy

consumption and a switch from natural gas to coal.

 

Earlier this week the government admitted it was unlikely to meet its

2010 target for reducing CO2 emissions.

 

Its climate change review said that current policy measures would

bring a cut of 15-18% from 1990 levels, the commonly-used baseline.

 

Annual carbon dioxide emissions are now only 5.3% lower than in 1990,

and have risen by about 2% since Labour came to power in 1997.

 

'Fine speeches'

 

Whilst Tony Blair continues to make fine speeches about climate

change he continues to fail to put his own house in order

 

Keith Allott, WWF

Environmental groups say the latest figures provide additional proof

that the government is failing on climate change.

 

" Just two days after the government effectively abandoned its climate

change targets, we learn that carbon dioxide emissions continue to be

on an upward trend, " said Keith Allott, head of climate change at the

campaign group WWF UK.

 

" Whilst Tony Blair continues to make fine speeches about climate

change he continues to fail to put his own house in order. "

 

WWF is urging the government to provide financial incentives through

the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to persuade the

power sector towards low-carbon technologies such as wind and tidal

power.

 

But the climate change review, unveiled on Tuesday, made clear that

the government has not decided how strong it will make incentives for

the next round of the ETS, covering the years 2008-2012.

 

Wind up

 

 

New regulations should prove a boon for offshore wind farms

In a separate announcement, the Department of Trade and Industry

(DTI) has lowered a hurdle to the development of large offshore wind

power by changing how connections to the national grid are financed.

 

Now, rather than operators installing the connection and paying for

it up front, grid companies will bear the cost.

 

They will then charge operators an annual fee.

 

" This is welcome news, " said Richard Ford, head of grid and technical

affairs at the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA).

 

" The industry is delighted that the government has finally settled

the regulatory framework for offshore wind. "

 

The first of these large wind farms will probably be the London

Array, 20km (12 miles) off the Essex and Kent coasts.

 

It will consist of up to 270 turbines, and the consortium building it

hopes to begin operations by 2010 subject to gaining the necessary

planning approvals.

 

Richard.Black-INTERNET