Climate Change Mitigation
Next Section / Previous Section / Back to first page
Context
In response to the threat of climate change, the Government has already committed to a number of actions including setting legally binding CO2reduction targets, and has introduce five year carbon budgets through the Climate Change Act.
Buildings account for around 50% of energy consumption and carbon emissions with homes accounting for 27% of total emissions it is in this context that the following actions are being implemented.
Actions and Deliverables
Overarching Target
Reducing total UK carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least 60% on 1990 levels by 2050 and by at least 26% by 2020. Within this, Government already has already set out its policy that new homes will be zero carbon from 2016, and an ambition that new schools, public sector non-domestic buildings and other non-domestic buildings will be zero carbon from2016, 2018 and 2019 respectively.
| List of Actions & Deliverables which contribute to Overarching Target | Body Responsible for each action/ deliverable | Timescale |
|---|
| All new homes to be zero carbon from 2016, with Building Regulations locking in improvements in 2010 and 2013. |
CLG |
2016 |
| Consultation on programme and timetable for achieving zero carbon non-domestic buildings by 2019. |
CLG |
Summer 2008 |
| Establish a task force to establish whether new school buildings could be zero carbon from 2016. |
DCSF |
2008 |
| The Carbon Reduction Commitment will apply mandatory emissions trading to cut carbon emissions from large commercial and public sector organisations by 1.1 million tonnes of Carbon (MtC) per year by 2020 |
Defra |
2010 |
| Departments to increase their energy efficiency per square metre by 15% by 2010 and 30% by 2020. |
All Government Departments (SDC monitoring) |
2010 |
| Reduce carbon emissions on the central Government office estate by 12.5% by 2010/11 and 30% by 2020 relative to 1999/2000 levels. |
All Government Departments (SDC monitoring) |
2010/11 |
| Central Government's office estate to be carbon neutral by 2012 |
All Government Departments (SDC monitoring) |
2012 |
| 15% reduction in carbon emissions from construction processes and associated transport compared to 2008 levels. |
Strategic Forum |
2012 - Aim to establish mechanism for measurement |
What can industry do?
Sign up to the Construction Commitments: www.strategicforum.org.uk
Specifically, help to achieve the Strategic Forum’s target to 2012 relating to carbon emissions: “By 2012, a 15% reduction in carbon emissions from construction processes and associated transport compared to 2008 levels.”
Further information:
Listed below are sources of information and assistance regarding climate change mitigation.
Next Section / Previous Section / Back to First Page
