| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
12 Nov 2007 : Column 12W—continued
| Table 2 : UK GHG emissions by sector, 1990 to 2005, on an end user basis | |||||||||
| Million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent | |||||||||
| Base year | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | |
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
| Table 3: UK carbon dioxide emissions from transport, 1990 to 2005, on a source basis | |||
| Million tonnes | |||
| Road transport | Domestic aviation | International aviation | |
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account is taken of initiatives to reduce emissions and develop clean energy technologies in determining policy on market mechanisms, with particular reference to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. [162959]
Mr. Woolas: Market mechanisms, such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), play an extremely important role in tackling climate change by encouraging the cost of carbon to be included in production and consumption decisions.
However, as the Stern review highlighted, by itself carbon pricing will not be sufficient to tackle climate change cost effectively for the longer-term. The Stern review suggested that a three-pronged approach is necessary for tackling climate change: carbon pricing, technology policy, and the removal of other barriers, such as consumer inertia and misaligned incentives.
The Stern report highlighted that technology policy was an important requirement for bringing down the cost of carbon abatement over time and ensuring the necessary degree of technological development. Under the EU ETS the allocations for new entrants are based on best available technology benchmarks, which helps to ensure that new installations are developing clean and efficient processes.
The Government agree with Stern's assessment and regards initiatives to develop clean technologies as important complements to carbon pricing mechanisms such as the EU ETS.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |