Climate change news

UNFCCC publishes draft Copenhagen agreement text
The first official draft of the document that could replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol when its emissions reduction provisions expire after 2012 is released, opening a fresh starting point for debate on a new global climate change agreement. The draft, produced by the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, includes a host of proposals that would put most of the burden for reducing greenhouse gas emissions on wealthier nations. To read the text, please go to the UNFCCC website here.
Updated 22 May, 2009

CBI launches common approach to greenhouse gas emissions reporting
The CBI has published a report on greenhouse gas emissions reporting, laying out a simple and common method for businesses to report their emissions publicly. With emissions reporting likely to be made mandatory for UK companies under the Climate Change Act in 2012, the CBI wants the government to adopt this approach in its guidelines, to be released October this year. The CBI believes greenhouse gas emissions reporting will be an important tool in making the shift to a low-carbon economy, but mandatory reporting will only work if there is a common method for firms to report their emissions.
Updated 19 May, 2009

CBI focused on energy and climate change in the UK
CBI Director-General Richard Lambert and CBI Head of Climate Change Rhian Kelly met British Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary Greg Clark this week to lobby for the independent planning commission (IPC) to remain in place if there is a change in government. Richard argued that without clarity on the planning system and in particular the future role of the IPC, capital intensive infrastructure projects, especially energy project, are at risk of delay, increasing the likelihood of an energy-generation gap in the middle of the next decade.

Also this week the CBI published a report on greenhouse gas emissions reporting, laying out a simple and common method for businesses to report their emissions publicly. The CBI wants the government to adopt this approach in its voluntary reporting guidelines, due October 2009.
Updated 15 May, 2009

CBI reinforces climate change messages in China
The CBI attended a number of events organised during the China visit of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband in May. Several CBI members joined the minister for a private breakfast in Beijing as well as a luncheon in Guangzhou. The minister highlighted the great successes China has achieved in terms of energy efficiency and energy intensity, and the importance of China taking a lead in climate change globally to influence other developing and developed nations to take positive action. A number of business agreements were signed during the minister’s visit between British and Chinese organisations.
Updated 8 May, 2009

CBI discusses Carbon Reporting with the European Commission
The CBI met recently with officials in the European Commission to discuss carbon reporting and measurements of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The Commission is keen to engage with the CBI as they examine, in cooperation with the European Standardisation body (CEN), tools for measuring GHG emissions. During discussions the CBI described our work on carbon reporting and will present an extensive report in this area to the Commission in the near future.
Updated 28 April, 2009

UK budget delivers positive step towards a low-carbon economy
The Budget unveiled a package of measures to promote the shift to a low-carbon economy but the British Government will need to deliver quickly on these if we are to meet our stretching carbon budgets and secure our energy supply:

. £405 million to support low-carbon industries and advanced green manufacturing;
. UK renewable and energy projects to benefit from up to £4 billion of new capital from the European Investment Bank;
. an uplift in support for offshore wind investments that reach financial close between now and 2011 through the Renewables Obligation. This is expected to support £9 billion of investment;
. extending support for combined heat and power through climate change levy exemptions, helping bring forward £2.5 billion of investment;
. a new funding mechanism to support up to four carbon capture and storage demonstration projects, and £90 million to fund detailed preparatory studies.

Richard Lambert, CBI Director-General, said:

"With many big energy projects, especially in renewables, being shelved or delayed because of funding problems, the provision of EIB loans will help get these schemes moving again.

"Coal is an important part of the UK's energy mix and we welcome the agreement to support up to four Carbon Capture and Storage demonstration plants. Developing CCS technology is the key to reducing the impact of coal-fired power stations on the environment."
Updated 27 April, 2009

CBI lobbies British Energy Secretary to promote low-carbon investment
Richard Lambert and Neil Bentley, Business Environment Director, met Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband this month to lobby for government decisions on planning statements for renewables, clean coal and nuclear. Richard argued that without clarity on government policy, the large scale and much-needed private sector investment to renew our ageing energy infrastructure is at risk of not coming to the UK, harming our security of supply in the next decade and undermining our ability to meet climate change targets.
Updated 27 April, 2009

Richard Lambert discusses cap and trade in America
CBI Director-General, Richard Lambert was in New York and Washington DC this month, assessing the economic and political climate and making contact with the new Obama administration. He continued CBI lobbying on climate change, meeting Hill staff and US business organisations. Richard particularly engaged in discussions on the development of the energy and climate change bill, as well as cap-and-trade in the US.
Updated 27 April, 2009

CBI calls for UK to take revolutionary road to low-carbon economy
The CBI called for “smart” dashboards that indicate when to change gear to be fitted as standard in all new cars in order to cut carbon emissions and herald a green motoring revolution.
 
For the first time the UK’s leading business group has set out its vision for a low-carbon economy in a series of climate change roadmaps. The roadmaps, called ‘Going the Distance', set out a timetable of action to ensure carbon emissions targets are met, and the measures that will be needed to put the UK in pole position in the development of low-carbon technologies.
 
In the roadmap covering the transport sector, the CBI is calling for:
• A short-term scrappage scheme that rewards consumers who replace older inefficient cars with newer more efficient models.
• The government to buy a fleet of electric vehicles to show its commitment to low carbon vehicles. This will stimulate private sector investment in the infrastructure needed to support electric cars.
• Standard combustion engined vehicles to be increasingly replaced with a portfolio of technologies, including advanced petrol engines, diesels, hybrids and stop start engines.
• Motorists to be encouraged to switch to a new generation of low rolling resistance tyres.
• A substantial uptake in gear shift indicators or dashboard indicator displays of real time fuel consumption by 2012, with a view to these becoming fitted as standard.
• The availability of biofuels on petrol station forecourts to be increased.
For more information on the roadmaps, please contact the CBI's Beijing office.
Updated 7 April, 2009

CBI lobbies Energy Secretary to promote low-carbon investment
Richard Lambert and CBI Business Environment Director Neil Bentley met Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband this week to lobby for government decisions and planning statements on renewables, clean coal and nuclear. Richard argued that without clarity on government policy, the large scale and much-needed private sector investment to renew our ageing energy infrastructure is at risk of not coming to the UK, harming our security of supply in the next decade and undermining our ability to meet climate change targets.
Updated 3 April, 2009

CBI comment on launch of low carbon industrial strategy
Commenting on the launch of the Government’s Low Carbon Industrial Strategy at the Low Carbon Industrial Summit on 6 March, Richard Lambert, CBI Director-General said:
'Now that the legislative framework for climate change policy is in place, the time has come for action.
'The government’s job is to provide industry with the right set of regulations and incentives, and to create the investment climate that will encourage the enormous investment of private capital required to build a low carbon economy. This means consistency, clarity and certainty in the implementation of policy.
'With stretching but credible targets to aim at, business will then create the products and services necessary for the new economy. Together with government, it will empower consumers to make the choices that will deliver the green agenda.
'This has to be a shared national priority with government, business and consumers working together for the same objective. The US is now moving out of the slow lane and into top gear in the race against climate change. The UK must show a greater sense of urgency if it is rise to the challenges and grasp the opportunities that lie ahead.'
Updated 9 March, 2009