WRI comparison on Copenhagen reduction pledges
On Friday 5 February the World Resources Institute (WRI) published a report which compared emissions reduction pledges submitted under the Copenhagen Accord. The report recommended that developed countries should implement emissions cuts in line with the higher range of the pledges submitted. The report can be found here: http://www.wri.org/publication/comparability-of-annexi-emission-reduction-pledges

Climate scepticism has risen: poll
Results from a BBC poll published on Sunday 7 February showed there has been in rise in public scepticism over the existence of global warming. The percentage of respondents that thought climate change was a reality had fallen from 83% in November 2009 to 75% in February 2010. The article can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8500443.stm

The Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Act 2009 received royal assent on 12 November 2009 and came into force on 12 January 2010. Amongst other requirements, the Act requires the Secretary of State to prepare and publish a strategy for the promotion of microgeneration in England and to amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 in relation to England to provide for the grant of planning permission for specified classes of equipment for  microgeneration on, or within the curtilage of, a dwelling house. A copy of the Act can be found here: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2009/ukpga_20090019_en_1

Climate change “may not be occurring”, says scientists
Scientific research—including work by British scientists—has put doubt over claims by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that greenhouse gases had caused the world’s temperatures to increase, the Times reported on Sunday 14 February. University of Alabama professor of atmospheric science John Christy said: “The temperature records can not be relied on as indicators of global change”. Click here for details: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7026317.ece

EU on track to meet 2020 renewable energy targets, says EWEA
A report released by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) on Tuesday 16 February confirmed predictions that EU member states are “on track” to meet 2020 renewable energy targets. The report––Pure power: Wind energy targets for 2020 and 2030––concluded that 13 member states were meeting the target, with eight expecting to exceed it. The report added most of the EU’s renewable energy would be produced from onshore wind farms by 2020, but large-scale exploitation of offshore wind power, along with improved infrastructure and electricity grids, was needed. Click here for the EWEA report: http://www.ewea.org/index.php?id=60&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]
=1799&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=f212468e50

19 February 2010: The latest draft of the Allocation Regulations in relation to the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme are now available and can be found on DECC's CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme: Policy background web page.

PM announces £8mn of funding for offshore wind…
Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced on Thursday 18 February that DECC had launched a further £8mn of funding for the offshore wind sector. Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband said: “Government support can help make the difference between Britain leading in the new offshore wind industry or simply being a follower.” The press release is available here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn10_031/pn10_031.aspx

New label launched for certified green electricity
Ofgem has launched a new certification scheme to label green electricity tariffs which have been certified as having genuine environmental benefits. Please click here for details: http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation.aspx?file=
GREEN%20SUPPLY%20FEB08CL%20(2).pdf&refer=Media/PressRel

Key emitters confirm 2020 targets
Countries accounting for more than two thirds of global emissions have submitted emissions targets to the UN, the BBC reported on Monday 1 February, as part of the measures agreed at December’s climate change summit at Copenhagen. The EU set a target of 20% below 1990 levels compared to the US at 17% below 2005 levels. The full story can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8489985.stm

The Government’s response to the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) section of the summer 2009 consultation on Renewable Electricity Financial Incentives (REFI) has been released and is available here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/elec_financial/elec_financial.aspx. We have also produced a bulletin which can be found here.

Miliband comments on EU emissions reduction commitments
The EU re-confirmed its support on Thursday 28 January for the Copenhagen Accord on climate change to commit efforts for a 20% reduction in emissions on 1990 levels with a conditional offer of 30% if other major emitters followed suit. Energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband said: “The Copenhagen Accord was an important step forward but we now need to redouble efforts to secure the legally binding treaty, and complete the unfinished business of Copenhagen.” Find out more here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/cop15eusub/cop15eusub.aspx

Mandelson launches funds for ‘environmental innovation’
On Tuesday 26 January business secretary Peter Mandelson launched the Hermes Environmental Innovation Fund, which to-date has raised £125mn and will continue to seek funds. The Hermes Fund––which represented the first of two initiatives under the wider UK Innovation Investment Fund––will be used to invest in low carbon and clean technologies. David Kidney said: “The new fund will help the UK build on existing strengths in the sector and enable British companies to demonstrate and commercialise these technologies”. Please click here for more information: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?
ClientId=431&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=410596&SubjectId=36

21 January -DECC issues guidance on energy use and GHG emissions to aid government decision making
On Thursday 21 January DECC published its Valuation of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for appraisal and evaluation; a guidance sheet for energy use and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions when working on policies, programmes and projects. It suggested that it was vital to ensure that full account of changes in energy use and GHG emissions was built into decision making. It also outlined reporting requirements for compliance with carbon budgets. The publication can be found here ( http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/analysts_group/analysts_group.aspx )

21 January - Deadline for signing climate deal is ‘flexible’, says UN
The UN Climate Change Convention has said nations that plan to sign up to the ‘Copenhagen Accord’ would not have to do so by the deadline of 31 January, the BBC reported on Thursday 21 January. Climate change convention executive secretary Yvo de Boer said the end of January deadline was “soft”. The story is available here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8471593.stm

EEA publishes its annual plan
On Thursday 21 January the European Environment Agency (EEA) published its Annual management plan 2010. The plan mainly focused on climate change adaptation, biodiversity and the “green economy”. It also outlined draft expenditure and financial budgets for 2010. The plan can be found here: http://www.eea.europa.eu/about-us/documents/administrativedocuments/eea-annual-management-plan-2010

Renewable energy forecast documents published
On Monday 18 January EU member states renewable energy forecast documents were published on the European Commission transparency platform as required by the renewable energy directive. The requirement focuses on surpluses and possible transfers between members states above “indicative trajectories” included in the directive. The UK document has yet to be added.

18 January 2010 - Press Release - UK Government to continue offsetting its emissions through new contract
On Monday 18 January 2010, the Government is launching the second phase of its Carbon Offsetting Facility (GCOF II) which will offset emissions resulting from Government air travel and potentially other emissions created by public sector organisations. It will cover emissions generated in the period April 2009 to March 2012.  There is the possibility of extending it to March 2013. The full press release is available here (http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/PN_GCOF/PN_GCOF.aspx)

14 January 2010 - Press Release - Miliband: UK Won't Let Up On Climate Fight
The recession will not deflect the Government’s efforts to cut carbon emissions and move to a low carbon economy, Energy and Climate Change Minister Ed Miliband said today.

Speaking as the Government formally responded to the Committee on Climate Change’s first annual report on carbon budgets under the Climate Change Act, Mr Miliband said Britain stood to gain not only from a green jobs revolution, but from measures to help people cut the amount of energy they use.

The full press release can be found here (http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/PN10_005/PN10_005.aspx)

January 2010 - A number of new CRC documents are now available (please click on the headings below to be re-directed):  

Draft CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Order 2010
On the 19th January, the draft CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Order 2010 was laid in the UK and Scottish Parliaments and in the National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly. It is subject to the approval of all four Administrations before it comes into force from April 2010. 

Revised CRC User Guide now available
This Guide:
• Provides a concise summary of all aspects of the CRC
• Reflects the changes implemented in the Government Response to the Consultation on the draft order to implement the CRC
• Reflects the legal detail of the final Draft Order to implement the CRC, which was laid in the four Parliaments/Assemblies on 19th January. 

New CRC Short Guidance Notes
A number of new guidance notes are now available from the Environment Agency’s website. These Notes cover:
• Preparing and submitting a Footprint Report
• Using estimation when reporting energy supplies in CRC
• Submitting an Annual Report 

CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Order: Table of Conversion Factors: Version 1
As part of the CRC, Participants (not Information Declarers) will be obliged to measure the emissions from energy supplies for which they are responsible according to the relevant conversion factors. These relevant conversion factors are specified in new documents now available on the four Administrations' websites. These amounts will be converted by the Registry into tonnes of carbon dioxide by the application of standard emissions factors. 

Addendum to the Government Response now available.  
This addendum reflects some minor policy changes to the CRC Order since its publication in October 2009.

January 2010: EAC - Third Report on Carbon Budgets
On 11 January, the Environmental Audit Committee published its third report reviewing carbon budgets.  

The report can be read here.   

January 2010: Boiler Scrappage Scheme
On 5 January, Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband announced the introduction of a national Boiler Scrappage Scheme to upgrade household heating systems to cut carbon, save money on fuel bills and sustain work for the heating industry.

More information about the scheme can be found here. 

December 2009: Fusion - Cumbria's official regeneration magazine
A tour hosted by Invest in Cumbria for French company MPH Groupe at the end of November, barely a week after the county suffered widespread flooding, illustrates how the Cumbria's inward investment programme is still forging ahead despite the recent deluge.
 
That's according to law firm Martineau, which has produced a post-flood report on Cumbria, including an account of MPH's search for local companies to partner in bids on oil, gas, nuclear and defence contracts in the UK.

The report also covers the provisional approval of three sites in Cumbria for new nuclear power facilties, and summarises a series of recent Government National Policy Statements. http://www.fusioncumbria.com/news.html?id=359

December 2009: Copenhagen Accord
On 19 December, DECC published a press release "Copenhagen accord to kick start immediate global climate action".  The press release can be found on the DECC webpage.     

December 2009: Energy Efficiency Package
On 7 December the European Parliament announced the EU’s Climate Package. The aim of the package is to ensure that the EU will achieve its ambitious objectives of cutting greenhouse-gas emissions and boosting renewables (20% energy saving,  20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and 20% share of renewables in overall EU energy consumption by 2020).

The objective of The Energy Efficiency Package is to mobilise EU policy makers and market actors to make buildings, appliances, means of transport and energy systems more energy efficient in order to achieve the ambitious energy targets set for 2020.

Information can be found here.

December 2009: Smart Metering
The Government’s response to the consultation on Smart Metering for electricity and gas was published on 2 December 2009. The response sets out the Government’s conclusions and decisions following the consultation, in particular its conclusions on:

• delivery model for domestic smart meters (Section 2)
• high-level smart functionality requirements for domestic electricity and gas meters (Section 3)
• provision of a real-time display and information with a smart meter (Section 3)
• approach on smart functionality requirements for non-domestic meters (Section 4)
• implementation programme (Section 6). 

The response document can be found at DECC

December 2009 - Biomethane into the Gas Network: A Guide for Producers
On the 29 December 2009, the DECC published guidance on injecting renewable gas into the grid.

The guidance can be found here. (http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply
/markets/gas_markets/nonconvention/nonconvention.aspx)

November 2009: EU ETS Directive
In November the Government published its response to the consultation on draft Statutory Instrument (‘The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data and National Implementation Measures 2009’) to transpose the first stage of European Union Directive 2009/29/EC . 

The document can be found at DECC.

November 2009: Energy Bill 2009-10
Summary: On 19 November 2009, the Energy Bill was presented to Parliament.  The Bill is intended to make provision relating to the demonstration, assessment and use of carbon capture and storage technology; to make provision for requiring benefits to be provided by holders of gas or electricity supply licences; to make provision about functions of the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority; to make provision about general duties of the Secretary of State in relation to gas and electricity markets; to make provision about electricity generation licences; to make provision about persons authorised to supply gas or electricity; and for connected purposes.    

The Bill can be found at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmbills/007/10007.i-ii.html

November 2009: Green Energy
On 12 November 2009, the Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Act 2009 received Royal Assent.  The Act defines the term "green energy", and aims to promote its development and installation.
The Act can be found at http://www.uk-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2009/ukpga_20090019_en_1.  

November 2009: Carbon Capture Readiness
In November the Government published its response to the Consultation on Guidance on carbon capture readiness and applications under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989: a consultation

The document can be found at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/Media/viewfile.ashx?FilePath=Consultations\
guidancecarboncapturereadiness\1_20091106164507_e_@@_ccrgovresponse.pdf&filetype=4

The documents can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/crc/crc.aspx

November 2009: Clean Coal
In November the Government published its response to its Consultation on a framework for the development of clean coal
The document can be found at: http://www.decc.gov.uk/Media/viewfile.ashx?FilePath=Consultations\
A%20framework%20for%20the%20development%20of%20clean%20coal\
responsedocs\1_20091109153409_e_@@_cleancoalconsgovresponse.pdf&filetype=4

November 2009: CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme
In November 2009, the Environment Agency published the report "The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme: Coverage, Abatement and Future Caps".  

This study provides the first independent quantification of the potential carbon emissions savings possible under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC).  It shows that up to 11.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year could be avoided by 2020 through the CRC scheme. This reduction in emissions could be achieved at no long-term extra cost, and could even be cost beneficial to participants, due to lower energy bills

The report can be found at: http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/SCHO0609BQDP-e-e.pdf

November 2009
The government has published its response to the consultation on the Adaptation Reporting Power in the Climate Change Act 2009.

This, along with a summary of the responses, can be found here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/climate-change-adapting/index.htm

October 2009:  Scotland and India clean energy pledge
On 14 October a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Governments of India and Scotland to drive innovation in renewable energy and support both governments' goals to increase supplies of wind energy, solar power and biofuels.

Further information can be found here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/10/14102543

October 2009: Meeting carbon budgets - the need for a step change
Summary: On 12 October 2009, the Committee on Climate Change published its first annual progress report to Parliament. It assesses the progress that has been made by Government so far in reducing emissions and the implications of the recession and 'credit crunch' for meeting carbon budgets. The report will set out the emission reduction indicators that will be used to judge progress and will provide a detailled analysis of the policies required to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases from electricity generation, from buildings and industry, heat and transport in the years up to the end of the third carbon budget period in 2022

The report can be found here: http://www.theccc.org.uk/reports/progress-reports

October 2009: Government Response to Carbon Reduction Commitment consultation
On 7 October, DECC published the Government Response to the consultation on the draft order to implement the Carbon Reduction Commitment, together with the analysis of consultation responses and an updated Impact Assessment for the scheme.  

The documents can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/crc/crc.aspx

September/October 2009: Carbon Neutrality
On 30 September 2009, DECC published “Guidance on carbon neutrality”. This document provides anyone who wants to achieve carbon neutrality with the information and guidance they need to help them do so effectively. 

On 1 October 2009 DECC published the summary of responses to its consultation on the term ‘carbon neutral’: its definition and recommendations for good practice.

The documents can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/open/carbon_neutrality/carbon_neutrality.aspx