AD and MBT key ways to drive down emissions

The study, entitled 'Building a Low Carbon Economy', lays out how the UK can reach targets to achieve an overall 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and comes after the independent Committee gained statutory status as a result of the Climate Change Bill being passed last week (see letsrecycle.com story).

The report claims that it would be “feasible” to reduce emissions in the waste sector by at least 80% by 2050.

And, it claims that AD and MBT could account for 75% of this total and provide a substitute for fossil fuels as it called for the “almost full decarbonisation” of power generation by 2030.

While the Committee has no power to force policy change, its earlier recommendation, that the 80% overall emissions reduction goal be adopted by the UK government, was included as part of the Climate Change Bill.

Speaking at the launch of the report today, the Committee's chair, Lord Turner of Ecchinswell, said: “While there are many technologies that will play a role in reducing emissions – one particularly important development is the decarbonisation of electricity production.

“A crucial objective therefore is to achieve a radical reduction in the grams of CO2 required to produce each kilowatt/hour of electricity,” he added.

Budgets

The report outlined three carbon budgets – for the periods 2008-12, 2013-17 and 2018-22 – as a means by which to achieve the 2050 goal, detailing emissions reductions of anything between 79 and 131 million tonnes of CO2 emissions (MtCO2e) by 2020 (equivalent to between 34% and 42% of 1990 levels).

Within this total, it claims that the waste sector could achieve emissions reductions of up to six MtCO2e.

While 75% of this would come from AD and MBT technology, it also described increased recycling rates as a “cost-effective” option for reducing emissions.

It stated: “We do not assume significant UK emissions savings from recycling, but the potential to reduce emissions both from UK landfill and from global primary extraction means that the policy framework should cover recycling.”

Policy

Highlighting the importance of government policy towards non-landfill treatment options and also of changing consumer behaviour – for example with regards food waste – the report describes an emissions reduction of 5 MtCo2e as “feasibly achievable”.

To achieve this goal, the report said: “There is already a policy framework in place at national and international levels that should unlock at least some of this potential.”

“This could be strengthened through introduction of new policies to support renewable heat, including through the use of biogas from waste,” it added.

Miliband

Commenting on the report, the secretary of state for energy and climate change, Ed Miliband, said: “Plotting a course to a low carbon future here in the UK is vital if we are to reach our domestic goals and reach an international agreement.

“Carbon budgets will set our trajectory and send out a clear message that we will tackle climate change here in the UK.”

He added: “We will give the report the in-depth consideration it deserves before responding in full but I am pleased to say that from 2009, carbon budgets will take their place alongside financial budgets, and become pivotal to policy decisions within the UK.”