Foster welcomes new move on carbon reduction

Environment Minister Arlene Foster MLA today welcomed the publication of the UK Government’s response to the consultation on the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC).

The scheme, which will legally require large users of electricity to reduce their consumption, is designed to save at least four million tonnes of CO2 by 2020 – the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road. The CRC will be implemented through the Climate Change Bill which is currently going through Parliament.

The Minister said: “I believe that the Carbon Reduction Commitment will make a very significant contribution to the reduction of carbon produced by large public and private sector organisations through greater energy efficiency and thereby contributing to the overall reduction of Northern Ireland’s carbon emissions.

“I will be bringing the scheme to both the Environment Committee and the Northern Ireland Executive for policy approval over the coming months.”

The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is scheduled to begin operation in 2010 as a mandatory emissions trading scheme that will cover around 5000 public and private organisations. This includes government departments, retailers, banks and local authorities, accounting for 10% of the UK economy.

Notes to Editors:

1. Full details of the Carbon Reduction Commitment, including the Government’s response to the consultation, can be found at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website.
2. CRC will apply to large business and public sector organisations in Northern Ireland whose annual half-hourly metered electricity use is above 70 kilowatt.
3. In the Programme for Government, Northern Ireland has a target of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 (30% reduction in CO2).
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