Renew On Line (UK) 27
Extracts from the July-Aug
2000 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it
Renew On Line (UK) 27 |
Extracts from the July-Aug
2000 edition of Renew |
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4. Royal Commission reports The UK should plan for a reduction of 60% over the next 50 years in the amounts of carbon dioxide it produces by burning fossil fuels, so as to respond to the serious problem of Climate Change. This was one of the key conclusions of a major report by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution - 'Energy – The Changing Climate' . Launching the report the Chairman of the Royal Commission, Sir Tom Blundell, said: ‘Recklessly causing large-scale disruptions to climate by burning fossil fuels will affect all countries. It is the poorest that would suffer most. We cannot expect other nations to do their part in countering this threat – least of all if they are much less wealthy – unless we demonstrate we are really serious about it.' The Commission backed the 'Contract and Converge' approach which meant that the industrialised countries should initially take the lead, with developing countries then catching up- 'there should be a an adjustment period in which the per capita emissions of developed and developing nations converge on the same level' . The Commission recognised that the UK has already played a leading role in international negotiations, and felt it could and should continue to do so. However, so far, the UK's success in reducing emissions had mainly been 'fortuitous' rather than planned, due mainly to the dash for gas. The government's goal of a 20% reduction from the 1990 level by 2010 was 'a major step in the right direction' but the Commission expressed doubts as to whether the measures at present proposed will achieve it. As the press notice put it 'The UK lags far behind many other European countries in developing the renewable energy technologies, that will become much more important in future, and in the very inefficient ways heat is supplied to homes'. Long term plan The main purpose of the report was to look much further ahead than the UK's draft Climate Change Programme (see Reviews). The Commission highlights the difficulties there will be in maintaining a 20% reduction beyond 2010, let alone making much larger reductions. It emphasises the need to 'start now on making reduction of carbon dioxide emissions a key factor in the planning and design of power stations and buildings of all types, many of which will still be in use in 2050. Ways have to be found of achieving sustainable solutions within liberalised energy markets, in which the emphasis has so far been on minimising price per unit in order to maximise sales of energy'. It saw the challenge climate change as ‘so fundamental that a complete transformation in the UK's use of energy will be an essential part of an effective global response'. In particular the Commission investigated the scope over the next 50 years for replacing fossil fuels by expanding the UK's use of renewable energy sources. It concluded that 'their use will have to expand to well beyond the 10% of electricity generation which the government has suggested as a target for 2010'. The report outlines four scenarios for achieving the 60% cut it carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 - one has solar PV panels on most roofs, 180 offshore windfarms, thousands of small wave devices and tidal turbines, on land windturbines on 1% of UK land and 15% of farm land used for energy crops - plus the Severn Barrage. The Commission noted that there would be a need to transform the electricity system in order to be able to use often small scale and intermittent renewable sources. In parallel there would have to be a major commitment to energy efficiency in all sectors- one scenario has demand reducing by 47% by 2050, so that fewer renewables would be needed. The Commission also looked at nuclear power: one scenario has 46 new PWR’s (or the equivalent fossil fuel plants, plus CO2 sequestration). It concluded that ' New nuclear stations are not indispensable in delivering long-term emission reductions – energy efficiency measures, renewable energy sources and capture and disposal of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel-fired power stations could all be viable alternatives. ' adding that , if nuclear was to be reconsidered 'no reactors should be built until the problem of radioactive waste management has been solved to the satisfaction of both the scientific community and the general public.' The report can be accessed free in pdf form at: http://www. rcep.org.uk See under News. A free summary version is also being distributed. Wewill review the report in detail in Renew 127 Recommendations Amongst the Commission's 87 recommendations;
The report will be submitted to Parliament. Calling for a wide debate on the issues, Commission chair Sir Tom Blundell said: 'Energy policies must command public assent and be compatible with an improving quality of life. If UK industry is to remain competitive, it has to shape up to the very different world that lies ahead. We also have to overcome the particular UK problem that, because of inadequate insulation, several million people cannot afford to keep their homes comfortably warm in winter.' Reactions The media mainly focused on the Commissions claim that the governments target of 20% cut in CO2 emissions by 2010 was unrealistic. Environment Minister Michael Meacher seemed to agree that it would be difficult. The Conservatives seized on this .'This Government came to power promising to be the greenest government ever. Michael Meacher's admission is only the latest sign of their failure to meet their green aspirations. Their record so far is a comprehensive catalogue of failure. They've failed to produce a coherent strategy for promoting renewable energy. They've failed to produce an integrated transport policy and they've failed to encourage cleaner gas-fired power stations. By contrast the Conservative Party has set up a Renewal Energy Commission to develop practical policies. It has also announced ideas to encourage less polluting fuels and oppose the Government's emphasis on coal-fired power stations.' Greenpeace was also critical of Labour "This study makes it clear that tinkering around the edges, which is all Governments are doing now, won't stop climate change wrecking lives and economies in places like Mozambique, or prevent sea level rise - flooding large parts of the UK. Nothing short of a massive move away from fossil fuels and into renewable energy will save us from rising seas and weather chaos. This report confirms that fossil fuel economies such as the UK's are on the wrong path - but it also shows that wind and solar power can break our addiction to oil, coal and gas"
RCEP wants Energy Labelling for all homes According to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, every home sold in Britain should be "labelled" to show its relative energy efficiency and the cost of heating. In a report that emerged prior to its major report on Climate Change (see earlier), the RCEP called for a planned reform of house purchasing rules to include the change, which it says could make "an important contribution to reducing... greenhouse gas emissions from households". Energy efficiency should be made an "intrinsic feature" of a planned official information pack that house sellers will be required to provide to buyers, the RCEP says. It proposes rating all properties on a scale of one to 100, based on a full energy survey. Such surveys are currently only required in the UK of newly built properties. RCEP’s demand is similar to a recent proposal by Germany's environment agency, which has estimated that average German households use twice as much energy as they need for space heating and hot water. According to END’s ‘the German government is in the process of drafting new regulations on energy saving in buildings, which are expected to set thresholds for heating energy requirements’ * The Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions has produced a consultation document on its proposed new building regulations. They aim to cut CO2 emissions for new houses by up to a quarter and save householders 25% on energy bills, by raising building energy performance standards in part L of the Building Regulation, including heating and lighting systems. More details in Renew 127. |
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