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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by her Department towards meeting the target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. by 2050; and what representations she has received. [116180] Mr. Meacher: The Energy White Paper accepted the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's (RCEP) recommendation that the UK should put itself on a path towards a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of some 60 per cent. from current levels by about 2050. The Energy White Paper sets out a long term strategic vision for energy policy, setting out long- term strategies and shorter-term policies to put us on this path. A cross governmental network, the Sustainable Energy Policy Network, will ensure that the aims set out in the Energy White Paper are delivered. The network will report annually on the progress being made towards these aims. Provisional data for carbon dioxide emissions are now available for 2002. This data shows emissions fell by an estimated 8 to 9 per cent. between 1990 and 2002, which demonstrates that the Government is making progress towards the domestic goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

116180; 406 c579-80W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Air pollution Carbon dioxide Pollution control Standards Sustainable Energy Policy Network

Link

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