All Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group Is a Cross-Party ...

4. Possible Points of Consensus
96. The earlier section on “A Consensus on Targets Plus Means?” outlines some of the points on
which consensus would be desirable and on which it might be reached, ranging from targets
through a broad policy framework to specific policy measures. In this section we list some of
the areas in which measures might be agreed upon. We address two measures - Domestic
Tradable Quotas (DTQs) and Contraction and Convergence (C&C) – in more detail, because
they featured heavily in a number of submissions.
97. A good starting point for the proposed climate policy group in developing cross-party policies
would obviously be the Joint Statement at Annex 1. Beyond that, there are indications that
the parties could try to find agreement in areas such as building standards, electricity
generation (including development of decentralised generation), vehicle fuel economy,
emissions trading schemes (including measures for aviation), and the use of fiscal measures
including carbon taxes.
98. Several of the suggestions for mitigating climate change made by contributors to the inquiry
and in letters to The Independent could also form the basis for consensus policies; e.g.
regulations on energy conservation and the efficiency of electrical appliances, the use of
Combined Heat and Power systems, increased subsidy for installation of renewable energy
technologies, more support for public transport, and enhanced awareness-raising.
99. Many contributors referred to the need for fiscal measures, including increased fuel duty,
increased vehicle excise duty on larger vehicles, the introduction of tax on aviation fuel.
While some favoured a general carbon tax, others favoured the introduction of some form of
carbon rationing such as DTQs (also known as Tradable Energy Quotas, TEQs), others a
combination of the two. DTQs, proposed by David Fleming and studied in detail by
researchers at the Tyndall Centre 34 , involve allocating emissions rights (electronically) to
individuals on an equal per capita basis; these are surrendered whenever the individuals
purchase fuel or electricity. DTQs were the subject of a Private Member’s Bill 35 in the 2003-
04 Parliamentary session. Alternative rationing schemes exist, such as that presented by the
NGO Feasta. 36
100. There is much debate about the relative merits of these measures, but this report is not the
place for it, nor is it our role to recommend any particular measure. But these are obviously
issues which should be debated by the proposed climate policy group and which would
warrant further research. The evidence submitted to this inquiry suggests that the
Government might receive unexpected public support for such measures.
101. Similarly, it would be appropriate for the Group to examine the merits of including support
for an approach such as C&C in the cross-party agreement. C&C, proposed by the Global
Commons Institute, was favoured by several contributors to the inquiry. It aims to stabilise
atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations at a ‘safe’ level by international sharing of a
contracting global emissions budget; at the end of an agreed timeframe, during which percapita
emissions rights would converge, those rights would be equal. C&C is the subject of
34 See Starkey, R and Anderson, K. (2005) Domestic Tradable Quotas: A Policy Instrument for Reducing Greenhouse
Gas Emissions from Energy Use. Tyndall Centre Technical Paper 39.
www.tyndall.ac.uk/research/theme2/final_reports/t3_22.pdf
35 Domestic Tradable Quotas (Carbon Emissions) Bill
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmbills/136/2004136.pdf
36 www.feasta.org/documents/energy/emissions2006.pdf
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