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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to ensure compliance with the Government's commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent. [224743] Mr. Morley: The Spending Review 2004 reconfirmed Defra's public service agreement (PSA) target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels in line with our Kyoto commitment and to move towards a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions below 1990 levels by 2010. The PSA target is shared jointly with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Transport. The UK Climate Change Programme published in 2000 sets out the Government's approach to tackling climate change. It contains policies and measures intended to achieve the emissions reductions necessary to deliver the UK's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol and move towards the national goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Progress towards the Kyoto Protocol commitment and our national goal are discussed by Ministers regularly, in particular through the Sustainable Energy Policy Network (SEPN), whose Ministerial Group, which is jointly chaired by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, oversees the delivery of the Energy White Paper commitments and the current review of the UK Climate Change Programme. The .review of the UK Climate Change Programme provides an opportunity for the Government to look carefully at whether to introduce new policies and measures, and/or strengthen existing ones, to put us back on track towards the national goal.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1527W;432 c1523W; 224743

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Air pollution Climate change Exhaust emissions

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk