UK Climate Change Programme 2006 - JNCC - Defra

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Transport
• research and development by aerospace
manufacturers of new technologies to reduce
the climate change impact of future aircraft;
and
• voluntary action by airlines, airports and
aerospace companies to control greenhouse
gas emissions and develop sustainability
strategies (such as the Sustainable Aviation
strategy). Such action should include emissions
reporting and targets at a company level.
53. All these measures provide a solid foundation for
action in tackling aviation’s global impacts, but
we realise that they may not provide a total
solution. In view of this, the Government will
continue to explore and discuss options for the
use of economic instruments for tackling
aviation's greenhouse gas emissions. The
Government has made it clear that it reserves the
right to act alone or bilaterally if progress at an
international level proves too slow.
Carbon offsetting
54. We recognise the potential of carbon offsetting
to help raise awareness of the environmental
impact of travel and other activities. Investment in
high quality offset projects (for example through
the Clean Development Mechanism) can deliver
certified emission reductions to offset
unavoidable emissions and often provide
additional sustainable development benefits.
55. Carbon offsetting of air travel emissions played a
large part in minimising the environmental impact
of the UK’s G8 Presidency. As a result, the Kuyasa
low-income housing energy upgrade project (the
first Clean Development Mechanism project to be
accredited in Africa) was selected to offset the G8
Presidency. Emissions arising from the UK’s
Presidency of the EU are to be offset in a similar
way.
56. We are developing this approach to offset
emissions arising from central Government air
travel through a Government Carbon Offsetting
Fund from April 2006. We are also encouraging
other sectors to consider the value of offsetting
and we welcome recent airline initiatives,
allowing customers to voluntarily calculate and
offset emissions from their flights.
Shipping
57. The UK is also playing an active role in reducing
emissions from Shipping.
58. In the medium to long term, technological
improvements may deliver carbon savings. For
example, developments in marine engine
manufacturing, the use of propulsion systems
other than diesel engines and alternative fuels
could all offer ways to cut carbon dioxide
emissions.
59. Working within the International Maritime
Organization (IMO), the UK made a significant
contribution at the latest Maritime Environment
Protection Committee (MEPC) negotiations on
the adoption of Interim Guidelines for Voluntary
Ship CO 2
Emission Indexing for Use in Trials. Ships
under the United Kingdom flag are being
encouraged to participate in these trials, which
will help identify a ship’s greenhouse gas index.
Other Measures
60. The Highways Agency is working hard to
improve its environmental performance and has
made substantial progress. The energy it uses to
light the network and provide communications
systems is now sourced in a greener way: 15 per
cent will come from clean energy and the rest
through good-quality Combined Heat and Power.
The Agency has also adopted innovative
construction techniques and materials, cutting
both the embodied energy needs of roads and
the energy used in transporting materials. On
recent projects such techniques have saved tens
of thousands of lorry trips. Beyond that, it is
investigating the wider use of solar panels and
inter-seasonal heat transfer systems.