“Becoming a low carbon economy will be one of the greatest changes our country has ever known. But it is a change for the better, for our economy, our society and for the planet. This Carbon Plan shows how, together, we can make it happen.”

David Cameron, Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

Govtoday presents Carbon Reduction 2011: The Transition to a Low Carbon Economy, our Third Annual National Summit, which will be held on 29th  November at The Brewery, The City of London.

The Govtoday Conference series ‘Securing the Future’ has examined the Government’s Sustainable Development strategy across different community sectors - an all-encompassing remit, which takes into account social, environmental and economic development - and how this interlinks with impacts upon current Government policy to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions by 34 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050 below the 1990 baseline under the Climate Change Act 2008; Underpinned with the announcement of the Fourth Carbon Budget (2023-2027) 17 May 2011, highlighting the Government’s commitment to become the greenest government ever, creating a world first - legally binding commitment and positioning the UK as a global low carbon leader. 

Carbon Reduction 2011 is Govtoday’s Annual Summit providing analysis of the UK’s overall progress on this agenda and this year focuses on the new schemes and policies to be introduced by the Government to drive our low carbon energy future, increase resource efficiency, reduce waste and through embedding sustainable practices, build our Green Economy for the future.

The Government has prioritised progress on this agenda over the next five years with a cross-government approach to policy as outlined in the ‘Draft’ Carbon Plan, published in March 2011, which sets out department by department, actions and deadlines going forward, taking into account the first three UK carbon budgets 2008-2022. The final ‘Live’ Carbon Plan will be published in October 2011, in recognition of the fourth carbon budget 2023-2027 and will be updated annually.

“This Carbon Plan sets out a vision of a changed Britain, powered by cleaner energy used more efficiently in our homes and businesses, with more secure energy supplies and more stable energy prices, and benefitting from the jobs and growth that a low carbon economy will bring.”

David Cameron, Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

At the heart of this Plan is the transformation of the way we generate and use energy, this will require approximately £110 billion investment in our electricity infrastructure by 2020, with around 30 per cent of electricity needing to come from renewables alone, in order for the UK to achieve the 15 per cent EU target by 2020.

The ‘Carbon Plan’ details further Government departmental deadlines to include;

• HM Treasury to legislate a floor in the Carbon Price by April 2011;
• Department of Energy and Climate Change to award contract for UK’s first Carbon Capture and Storage demonstration by the end of 2011, and identify further projects by May 2012;
• Department for Business and Innovation to operationalise the Green Investment Bank by September 2012,with data and investment details released by May 2013;
• Department of Transport to develop nationwide strategy promoting the installation of electric vehicle infrastructure by June 2011; and;
• Department of Energy and Climate Change to lead in the reduction of central governments emissions by 10 per cent in twelve months – deadline May 2011.

Moreover, there is a renewed emphasis on mainstreaming Sustainable Development across government and the wider public sector, embedding sustainable practices in operations and importantly procurement worth £236 billion, adapting and mitigating against climate change whilst simultaneously promoting the UK’s  Green Economy.

Carbon Reduction 2011: The Transition to a Low Carbon Economy Summit will provide an unique insight into current national and international policy on tackling the long-term effects of climate change and provide some solutions for delivering the UK’s carbon reduction strategy over the next five years.