The committee has urged the UK to commit to reducing emissions of all greenhouse gases by at least 34% in 2020 relative to 1990 levels. And, if a global deal is reached, it recommends increasing this cut to 42%. The Climate Change Act itself requires cuts of at least 26% by 2020.
Meeting the targets should be achievable without harming the UK’s economy and at a cost of less than 1% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020, says the committee. As an example, that means that an economy that might grow by 30% in the period to 2020 would instead grow by 29%.
"It is not too late to tackle climate change, but it will be unless the world takes action soon, and the developed countries need to lead the way with strong commitments and strong delivery against the budgets," said Adair Turner, chair of the Committee on Climate Change. "The budgets we have proposed are achievable given available and developing technologies, and provided the policies in place are implemented and, where necessary, reinforced. The reductions required can be achieved at a very low cost to our economy: the cost of not achieving the reductions, at national and global level, will be far greater."
The advisory body believes the targets can be met by cleaner forms of generating electricity and heat, including renewables such as wind power, biomass heat and heat pumps, nuclear and carbon capture and storage; improved energy efficiency in homes, office buildings and industry; and reducing transport emissions by developing electric cars, improving engine efficiency, developing sustainable biofuels, more use of public transport and better journey planning. To meet the 42% target that will kick in if a global deal is reached, the committee also recommends purchasing offset credits from systems such as the Clean Development Mechanism.
The committee has set carbon budgets covering 2008-2012, 2013-2017 and 2018-2022. "Carbon budgets will require a culture change where all important decisions will have to be made on the basis of whether they fit the budget, whether emissions savings can be made elsewhere or whether they simply can’t be done," said Ed Miliband, secretary of state at the Department of Energy and Climate Change. "From 2009, carbon budgets will take their place alongside financial budgets, and become pivotal to policy decisions within the UK."