Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Lawson of Blaby (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 24 November 2008.

Carbon Emissions

Question: My Lords, is it not extraordinary that we should at this stage be introducing a unilateral, unconditional requirement on this country to reduce carbon dioxide emissions when no other country is committing to do the same, to the degree of 80 per cent, even though we account only for the insignificant amount of 1.5 to 1.7 per cent of total emissions? In pursuit of this absurd and masochistic policy for this country, has the Minister’s department made an estimate, as it should have done, of how big an increase in energy prices for business, industry and the consumer will be required to achieve this objective?

Answer: My Lords, there will be some costs attendant on the transfer of energy production, but there are also huge opportunities. The noble Lord seemed to indicate that only the United Kingdom was concerned about global emissions, but he will appreciate that the European Union has its target. He will recognise that the new Administration of the United States are also taking Kyoto seriously. In that context, being in the lead, which is where Britain intends to be under this Government, will reap rich rewards in terms of opportunities for producing the technologies for the future.

Secondary information