With so much talk about climate change, it’s important to keep tabs on how well the UK is progressing to meet its carbon budgets. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) is responsible for conducting a yearly assessment and reporting back to Parliament. This includes investigating the latest emissions data to look for actual signs of progress rather than simply reporting on what may be temporary fluctuations.
Early signs of progress have been positive, but it is clear there is no room for complacency. In 2017, UK emission levels were 43% lower than they were in 1990. The first carbon budget set for the period of 2008 to 2012 was met, and the UK looks to be on target to exceed both the second and third carbon budgets, set for the periods from 2013 to 2017 and 2018 to 2022.
However, the current assessment suggests the UK is not on track to cover the fourth carbon budget for the period of 2023 to 2027 unless more challenging measures to reduce domestic emissions are met.
To meet the UK’s 2050 target to reduce emissions by at least 80% of the 1990’s levels, domestic emissions will need to fall by 3% a year.
What can be done in homes?
One of the ways in which domestic emissions can be reduced is by households ensuring the efficiency of all of their appliances and taking action to reduce energy wastage.
Heating systems and boilers should be regularly serviced by a gas safe registered engineers, such as those who specialize in boiler installation. To speak to experts in boiler installation Gloucester, take a look at http://www.hprservicesltd.com/gloucester-boilers/boiler-installation-gloucester/ It’s essential that you only ever use a registered expert to look at gas works in your home. To see who’s on the register, consult.
Monitoring progress
The CCC has indicators to help them track progress and identify where some targets may be missed. These include:
-The number of lofts and walls being insulated
-The number of boilers being upgraded, including the installation of ultra-efficient heat pumps.
-Emissions from new cars and development in the electric car market
-The size of wind farm developments
-Progress of government policies, including grants for electric vehicles and the Electricity Market Reform
-How existing power infrastructure could be used differently to reduce emissions in an average unit of electricity
