An official advisory body called on towns, regions, public organisations and businesses to join a 'revolutionary' programme that will map out a future low-carbon economy. The 'dCARB-uk' project is designed to fill the gap between international goals and objectives and the concrete actions that need to be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and counter climate change.
Source: Press release 5.12.02, Sustainable Development Commission (020 7944 4964)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A panel of scientists, economists and engineers said that the climate change levy should be scrapped and replaced by a carbon tax.
Source: Economic Instruments for the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions, Policy document 26/02, Royal Society (020 7839 5561)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Nov
The responses were published to the government's consultation exercise on future energy policy. The government said that the responses endorsed its key energy objectives of maintaining security of supply, while meeting environmental targets and providing affordable energy to consumers.
Source: Press release 27.11.02, Department of Trade and Industry (020 7215 5000)
Links: Press release | Responses (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
Employers said that the climate change levy has damaged competitiveness while failing to promote energy efficiency, and should be radically reformed.
Source: The Climate Change Levy: First year assessment, Confederation of British Industry (020 7395 8247) and Engineering Employers Federation
Links: Report (pdf) | Press Release
Date: 2002-Nov
A paper argued that the government should explore the possibility of using incentive payments to encourage early closure of some of Britain s coal-fired power generation capacity, as a solution to both energy supply and pollution problems.
Source: Alex Evans, British Energy: Crisis or opportunity?, Institute for Public Policy Research, available from Central Books (0845 458 9911)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
The government said that, according to a public consultation exercise, tackling pollution and checking global warming are seen as greater priorities than keeping energy costs low, and that this reflects the growing public awareness of energy issues and how they impact on the environment.
Source: Press release 10.10.02, Department of Trade and Industry (020 7215 5000)
Links: Press release | Results of consultation (index page)
Date: 2002-Oct
The Welsh Assembly Government began consultation on a strategy for reducing fuel poverty.
Source: Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 A Fuel Poverty Commitment For Wales, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 6958)
Links: Consultation Document (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
An international report said that gas and electricity prices in the United Kingdom have fallen in real terms, and carbon dioxide and air pollution have declined, since the process of liberalising energy markets was begun. It said that energy policy measures should not be used to pursue social and other policy objectives.
Source: Energy Policies of IEA Countries - United Kingdom, 2002 Review, International Energy Agency (+33 1 4057 6559)
Links: Summary (pdf) | IEA press release | DTI press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A committee of MPs said that lower fuel costs cannot be relied on to continue to produce reductions in the number of fuel poor: the only real long-term solution is greater energy efficiency of the housing stock.
Source: Fuel Poverty, Sixth Report (Session 2001-02), HC 814, House of Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 1.1
Date: 2002-Sep
The government gave a short-term loan of 650 million to the nuclear energy supplier, British Energy, to help it remain solvent pending a restructuring of the company.
Source: Press release 26.9.2002, Department of Trade and Industry (020 7215 5000)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A government publication outlined the environmental consequences of energy production and supply, and the social impact of domestic competition, service quality issues and fuel poverty.
Source: Energy - Its Impact on the Environment and Society, Department of Trade and Industry (0870 150 2500)
Links: Report (pdf) | DTI press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 4.7
Date: 2002-Jul
The government began consultation on ways in which economic instruments might be used to improve household energy efficiency, consistent with its objective of eliminating fuel poverty.
Source: Economic Instruments to Improve Household Energy Efficiency, HM Treasury (020 7270 4558) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Links: Consultation Document (pdf) | Treasury press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/2, Digest 118, paragraph 4.7
Date: 2002-Jul
The government published a strategy for 'greener motoring'. It set out targets to ensure that, by 2012, ten per cent of new cars will be low-carbon vehicles and that 600 or more new buses coming into operation each year will be low-carbon.
Source: Powering Future Vehicles: The Government Strategy, Department for Transport (0870 1226 236), Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and HM Treasury
Links: Report (pdf) | DT press release
Date: 2002-Jul
A committee of MPs made a series of recommendations for improving the use of renewable energy sources, including the creation of a 'Sustainable Energy Policy Agency'.
Source: A Sustainable Energy Strategy? Renewables and the PIU Review, Fifth Report (Session 2001-02), HC582-I and II, House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Jul