Emissions trading

All central government departments are to take part in an emissions trading scheme that will also include large businesses such as supermarkets, banks, hotel chains and department stores, environment secretary Hilary Benn said yesterday.

The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), scheduled to begin operation in 2010, is a mandatory emissions trading scheme that will cover around 5,000 public and private organisations, including government departments, as well as retailers, banks and local authorities, which account for 10 per cent of the UK’s emissions.

Mr Benn also announced that public sector bodies in England, including local authorities and hospitals, would be supported in becoming more energy efficient through an extra £30m over three years in interest-free loans for energy efficiency projects.

'The government has to show it’s serious about reducing CO_² emissions. This means the public sector improving the energy efficiency of its buildings - and doing this quickly. Extending the Carbon Reduction Commitment shows our commitment to tackling public sector emissions and playing our part in building a low carbon Britain,' Benn said.