Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
Energy and Climate Change: our vision
Our vision is of a thriving, globally competitive, low carbon energy economy.
Achieving this through a long term transition to secure, affordable, low carbon energy on the way to an 80 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 will mean a transformation in the way we generate and use energy. In the near term, we will still need secure and safe oil and gas supplies from the North Sea and through collaboration with international partners.
But as we look to the future, decarbonising our energy use will mean far more use of electricity in our transport system, in the way we heat our homes and businesses, and in the way our industry operates. That requires a big increase in electricity production, likely to need to double by 2050. At the same time, we need to drive down demand, increase efficiency, reduce wasted energy and ensure that we deliver in a way that maximises the effectiveness of taxpayers’ money.
Green jobs
Making that change offers great opportunities, creating a wealth of new green jobs as we reform our system and infrastructure, helping to protect our economy from international energy price spikes, and ensuring that our energy system is resilient and secure from a range of risks, including natural hazards and other threats, as we establish the low carbon technologies that will be at the heart of our energy system: renewable energy, a new generation of nuclear power built without public subsidy, and clean fossil fuels through Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
Limiting emissions
In the next five years, we will take action to set the UK on this path, helping not only our own economy but global efforts on climate change – leading the way through action at home, working with other countries to promote practical action to support low carbon growth, and seeking a global deal to limit emissions. Our first priority must be to deal with the legacy of the past, working towards a more cost-effective and responsible process for the safe and secure decommissioning of nuclear legacy facilities and radioactive waste management.
Green Deal
Looking ahead, our new Green Deal will offer households and businesses access to the finance they need to install energy efficiency measures, repaid through savings on their bills; a reformed energy market will provide a secure base for the £200 billion of investment needed in our electricity infrastructure by 2020; we will support the world’s first commercial scale demonstration of Carbon Capture and Storage; we will work towards obtaining 15 per cent of our energy from renewable sources by 2020; and the roll out of smart meters and a smart grid will create the right base for an energy system that is fit for the long term.
Energy and Climate Change: our priorities
Save energy with the Green Deal and support vulnerable consumers
Reduce energy use by households, businesses and the public sector, and help to protect the fuel poor.
Deliver secure energy on the way to a low carbon energy future
Reform the energy market to ensure that the UK has a diverse, safe, secure and affordable energy system and incentivise low carbon investment and deployment.
Drive ambitious action on climate change at home and abroad
Work for international action to tackle climate change, and work with other government departments to ensure that we meet UK carbon budgets efficiently and effectively.
Manage our energy legacy responsibly and cost-effectively
Ensure public safety and value for money in the way we manage our nuclear, coal and other energy liabilities.