A cross-Government new action plan on climate change was launched by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.
The draft Plan highlights three key changes that will be required across the UK economy, including:
* in the way electricity is generated, where a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels and towards low carbon alternatives is needed – including renewable energy, new nuclear power and fossil fuel power stations fitted with carbon capture and storage
* in the way homes and businesses are heated, where a step change is needed in how well homes are insulated and away from gas boilers to low carbon alternatives, such as heat pumps
* in the way people travel. This means more use of public transport and substituting the need for some journeys, but the greatest change will be in road transport – reducing emissions from petrol and diesel engines and moving towards alternative technologies such as electric vehicles.
The document details a range of deadlines and actions that a number of Government departments will have to meet. Notably, it confirms DECC to award the contract for the first UK Carbon Capture and Storage demonstration by end of this year and identify further demonstration projects by May 2012.