UK implementation of EUwide climate change policies and measures

1
UK implementation of EU-wide climate change
policies and measures

• Dr Peter G Taylor
•  
• Presented at the international seminar
  Implementation of Kyoto Protocol in Russia
  Barriers and Prospects
• 16 June 2005, Moscow

2
Outline of presentation

• The European Climate Change Programme and
  monitoring mechanism of greenhouse gases
• EU15 Kyoto and burden sharing targets
• Overall EU15 and Member State progress on
  reducing emissions
• Key EU wide policies and measures and UK
  implementation

3
The ECCP and Monitoring Mechanism

• The EU15 greenhouse gas target under the Kyoto
  Protocol is distributed between Member States
• European Climate Change Programme is developing
  new EU-wide policy initiatives
• Revised greenhouse gas monitoring mechanism
  provides the framework for country reporting on
  projections and policies and measures

4
EU burden sharing agreement
Source EEA
5
EU15 progress towards meeting the Kyoto Protocol
target
Source EEA
6
MS progress towards meeting the burden sharing
targets (2002)
Source EEA
7
Key common and co-ordinated policies and measures

• Energy supply and use
• Transport
• Agriculture
• Waste management
• Industrial processes

8
Expected savings in 2010 from six key EU wide
policies (EU15)
Source EEA
9
EU emissions trading

• UK policies
• Pilot UK emissions trading scheme since 2002.
• EU emissions trading started in 2005.
•  
• Allowances under Phase I of the EU ETS (2005-7)
  will initially be 736.3 MtCO2, which is about 65
  MtCO2 (around 8) below business as usual
  emissions.

Source Defra
10
Renewable electricity

• UK policies
• Renewables Obligation 2002
• Guarantees of Origin 2003
•  
• Target of 10 of electricity from renewable
  sources by 2010 with aspiration of 20 by 2020.
• Carbon savings of 3-5 MtC by 2020.

Source EEA
11
Energy taxation

• UK policies
• Climate change levy on non-domestic use of gas,
  electricity, coke, coal and LPG since 2001.
• Excise duty on hydrocarbon oils e.g. road fuels.
• These pre-dated the recent EU-wide directive
  that set minimum levels of duty.

Source European Commission
12
CO2 emissions from cars

• UK policies
• Reform of the vehicle excise duty system in 2001.
  
• Since 2002, the company car tax system has been
  based on vehicles CO2 emissions.
• These measures are already having an impact on
  new car sales. The changes to company car
  taxation are expected to lead to CO2 savings of
  0.5-1 MtC by 2010.

Source Defra
13
Emissions from landfill

• UK policies
• Landfill tax (increasing).
• Landfill regulations of 2002 and 2004.
• Landfill allowances trading scheme from 2005.
•  
• EU Directive has targets for the UK (relative to
  1995) for reducing the amount of biodegradable
  waste that is landfilled
• 25 reduction by 2010
• 50 reduction by 2013
• 65 reduction by 2020

Source EEA
14
Conclusions

• UK emissions reductions are important in helping
  the EU15 meet its overall Kyoto target
• UK currently on course to exceed its target under
  the burden sharing agreement
• EU-wide policies and measures can reduce
  emissions while maintaining a level playing field
  between countries
• UK implementation of policies is well advanced,
  although more effort is needed in some areas