Summary
This White Paper, 'The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan: National Strategy for Climate Change', sets out the UK's transition plan, to 2020, for becoming a low carbon country: cutting emissions, maintaining secure energy supply, maximising economic opportunities and protecting the most vulnerable.
The plan will deliver emission cuts of 18% on 2008 levels.
Key steps include:
- all government departments to have carbon budgets;
- 40% of energy from low carbon sources including 30% of energy from renewables;
- funding of four demonstrations of capturing and storing emissions from coal power stations; and
- new nuclear power stations.
Homes will be made greener by:
- £3.2 billion to help households become more energy efficient;
- rolling out smart meters to all homes by 2020;
- piloting 'pay as you save' schemes;
- introducing clean energy cash-back schemes; and
- a competition for 15 towns and villages to be pioneers in green innovation.
Vulnerable sections of society will be helped by:
- mandated social price support;
- piloting a community-based approach to delivering green homes in low income areas, helping around 90,000 homes; and
- increasing Warm Front grants.
The greening of industry will be addressed through support for development and use of clean technologies, including £120 million in offshore wind and £60 million towards marine energy.
Transport will be transformed:
- carbon dioxide emissions from new cars to be cut across the EU by 40% on 2007 levels and increased support for electric cars; and
- sourcing 10% of UK transport energy from renewable sources.
A framework for emissions from farming will also be developed.
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