What's being done to help fight climate change?

What the Government is doing or has done:

• Introduced the Climate Change Act, commiting the UK to reducing CO₂ emissions. This act was passed into law in 2008.
• Introduced mandatory Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for the sale/purchase of homes. All properties when bought, sold, built or rented will require an EPC.
• It is working with energy suppliers who, through the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) which replaced the Energy Efficiency Commitment, provide support to householders to help them improve the efficiency of their homes.
• Banned incandescent bulbs in favour of Energy Saving Light Bulbs.
• Introduced the Climate Change Levy whereby businesses pay an additional tax on their energy use, unless exempted by their use of renewable energy.
• Introduced a Renewables Obligation; so that all electricity suppliers must provide 10% of the electricity they sell from renewable sources by 2010.
• Passed the Energy Act 2008 to introduce Feed-In tariff, Smart Metering, Renewable Heat Incentives and Carbon Capture & Storage.
• Lowered VAT from 17.5% to 5% on some energy saving materials (insulation and heating controls), if they are fitted by professional installers.
• Funding microgeneration grant schemes to the amount of £80 million. This includes the Low Carbon Buildings Programme which provides grants towards installing microgeneration technologies. This has been replaced by the new Feed-In Tariff through which householders can earn money from generating electricity from microgeneration.
• Encouraged local authority planning departments to adopt microgeneration targets for new buildings.
• Councils can sign up to the Nottingham declaration which shows their commitment to tackling climate change. Over 160 had signed up on the last count and this figure is continuing to rise.
• A number of councils have made a commitment to tackle climate change, including improving the energy performance of their properties and running local campaigns.

What business is doing

• During 2008-09, lifetime savings of approximately 43,000 tonnes of CO ₂ were achieved through the Energy Saving Trust transport programmes. These programmes included working with around 122 companies to help them improve their transport behaviour through Green Fleet Reviews.
• We work with the building industry to help improve the energy efficiency standards that are used in housing through the best practice programme.
• The Carbon Trust is working with businesses across the UK to help them reduce their carbon emissions.

Lifetime savings of 100,000 tonnes of CO2 saved through our transport programmes

What householders are doing

• Thousands of people are adopting energy saving lifestyles by doing simple things ranging from turning their lights off when leaving a room to installing energy efficient condensing boilers and insulating their homes.
• Between 2002-2005, a massive 1.1 million households installed or topped up their loft insulation. It is estimated that £87 million a year in energy costs will be saved as a result of this.

Help for householders

• Through our network of Energy Saving Trust Advice Centres we have given energy efficiency advice to over 7 million people during the last 10 years. This advice includes installing energy efficient measures such as loft insulation, condensing boilers, cavity wall insulation etc.
• Call 0800 512 012 to speak to your local advice centre now.
• The Low Carbon Buildings Programme provides grants towards installing microgeneration. Visit the Low Carbon Buildings Programme website to find out more.

Read the Stern review to find out more about the economics of climate change

Complete the Act on CO2 calculator and find out your carbon footprint