The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) today advised that the UK should protect funding for a suite of low-carbon technologies, which if developed here, will help to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050, whilst also providing the basis for green economic growth in the longer term.

Without government support, a range of essential low-carbon technologies are likely to get stuck in a so-called ‘valley of death’, where development is curtailed, and will fail to make it to market.

New low-carbon technologies will be vital in generating cleaner forms of electricity, which can then be used for electric vehicles and heating, and in delivering energy efficient buildings, areas which will make a very significant contribution to meeting the 2050 target to reduce emissions by 80% relative to 1990 levels.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) today published its Annual Report & Accounts for 2009-10. These were formally laid before Parliament this morning, and were given an unqualified opinion by the National Audit Office.

Included in the report is a new sustainability strategy for the organisation, and results from monitoring of emissions over the past year.

Chief Executive of the Committee on Climate Change, David Kennedy said:  

“We have produced a number of significant reports this year and I am pleased to see the positive reaction we are getting to these from Government, businesses and individuals that are interested in tackling climate change.

On the corporate side, we have made the transition from a start-up to a more business-as-usual mode of operation. I am delighted that we received fully unqualified accounts and have put in place a credible monitoring framework and sustainability strategy, in order to help us to reduce our business emissions”.

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The Committee on Climate Change said today that a step change in the pace of underlying emissions reductions is still required if the UK is to meet its legislated carbon budgets - which require at least a 34% cut in emissions by 2020 relative to 1990 levels.

The conclusions are set out in the Committee’s 2nd progress report to Parliament. Emissions of greenhouse gases have declined over the past year (by 8.6%), but this is almost entirely due to a reduction in economic activity caused by the recession and increased fossil fuel/ energy prices, and is not the result of the implementation of measures to reduce emissions. As the economy returns to growth, the risk is that emissions will increase, and that carbon budgets will not be achieved.

Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, Lord Adair Turner said:

“The recession has created the illusion that progress is being made to reduce emissions. Although emissions have declined substantially, our analysis shows that this is almost wholly due to a reduction in economic activity and not from new measures being introduced to tackle climate change.
“So we are repeating our call for new policy approaches to drive the required step change, in order that the UK can ensure a low-carbon recovery.

“Given new approaches, we are confident that individuals and business will respond, taking advantage of the affordable opportunities available to reduce emissions”.

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The Scottish Government today reflected the advice of the independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC) in its implementing framework for the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

The Scottish Government reaffirmed its commitment to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases in Scotland by 42% by 2020 - a challenging target which would, if achieved, put Scotland on a path to meeting the 2050 target.

CCC’s Chief Executive David Kennedy said:

“We welcome the positive proposals published today by the Scottish Government. The targets will be challenging and will require significant policy strengthening. The priority now is for the Scottish Government to set out a clear strategy which addresses the significant potential for emissions reduction in Scotland that we have identified. These emissions reductions are both affordable, and will bring wider benefits to Scotland.”

The Scottish Government will publish a strategy which will set out how they will make these emission reductions later this year.

Government today responded to the CCC’s first annual progress report to Parliament, and committed to redouble its efforts to reduce emissions from harmful greenhouse gases in order to meet Carbon Budgets and help to tackle  global warming. In launching the Government’s response, the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband said:  

“The recession will not deflect the Government’s efforts to cut emissions and move to a low carbon economy. We will not let up on the fight against climate change, instead we must redouble our efforts at home and internationally so the UK emerges from the global downturn building on the opportunities and benefits a low carbon future will bring”.

The response accepts the recommendations of the CCC report, acknowledging the need for a step change going beyond any emissions reductions resulting from the recession, and setting out new initiatives for policy strengthening in key areas including a review of the electricity market arrangements. It also broadly accepts the Committee’s framework of indicators against which future progress reducing emissions will be assessed. Lord Turner, Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, responded to the report on behalf of the Committee saying:

“We welcome this positive response to our first report to Parliament. It starts to address issues that we raised, and moves us closer to a framework that will drive required emissions cuts. We look forward to departmental action plans and the 2050 vision to be published by the Government in Spring, and will provide an updated assessment of progress meeting carbon budgets in our June report to Parliament.”

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A report from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) published today says that aviation policy should be based on the assumption that demand growth between now and 2050 cannot exceed 60% if the UK is to meet the Government’s target that aviation emissions in 2050 must not exceed  2005 levels.

The report concludes that fuel efficiency and operational improvements are likely to result in a 30% reduction in carbon emissions per seat km flown and that  sustainable biofuels could account for 10% of aviation fuel use in 2050. Faster   technological improvements are possible, but unless and until they are achieved, it is not prudent to assume that demand increases of more than 60% are compatible with the target.

Lord Turner, Chair of the Committee on Climate Change said:

“Aviation emissions must be included within our strategy to tackle climate change. We have set out options for achieving the Government’s target that aviation emissions in 2050 should not exceed 2005 levels. Given the likely pace of technological progress a demand increase of up to 60% but no more could be compatible with the government’s target. Aviation policies should be consistent with this overall limit on demand growth, unless and until more rapid technological progress than currently anticipated makes any greater increase compatible with the target"

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David Kennedy, Chief Executive of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) was today joined by Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, at the Scottish launch of the Committee’s first annual report to Parliament.

David Kennedy said:

“It is essential that much more effort is made in reducing emissions. This will require leadership at UK and national levels. The Scottish Government has an important role to play in unlocking the significant opportunities for emissions reductions in our buildings, on our roads and in the generation of electricity. Progress has been made but further progress is needed if emissions are to be reduced as required“

Speaking at the event in Edinburgh the Minister said:

“Climate change is the biggest environmental threat that we face and the Scottish Government has a clear duty to support international action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We recognise that climate change will have far reaching effects on Scotland’s economy, its people and its environment and are committed to playing our part in rising to this challenge.”