Climate Change – the Climate Change – the challenge measuring our effortchallenge measuring our effort

88thth April, 2008 April, 2008

Colin Challen MPColin Challen MP

CO2

Time

Contraction

CO2

Time

Contraction

ConvergenceConvergence

Stern Report 2006Stern Report 2006

To avoid a likely 20% cost to GDP through To avoid a likely 20% cost to GDP through climate change damages, we need to climate change damages, we need to

spend 1% GDP on mitigationspend 1% GDP on mitigation

Stern Report 2006Stern Report 2006

To avoid a likely 20% cost to GDP through To avoid a likely 20% cost to GDP through climate change damages, we need to climate change damages, we need to

spend 1% GDP on mitigationspend 1% GDP on mitigation

c.£13.2 billionc.£13.2 billionbut for what result - but for what result - exactly?exactly?

NAO ReportNAO ReportUK Greenhouse Gas Emissions:UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

measurement and reportingmeasurement and reporting““The basis on which to report against the UK domestic goal The basis on which to report against the UK domestic goal

of a 20 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide by 2010 is of a 20 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide by 2010 is unclear. This reflects a lack of precision in the way in unclear. This reflects a lack of precision in the way in which the goal was originally defined, the absence of which the goal was originally defined, the absence of clear reporting standards, and insufficient consistency clear reporting standards, and insufficient consistency and co-ordination between departments in presenting and co-ordination between departments in presenting

emissions data. In particular, foreign credits purchased emissions data. In particular, foreign credits purchased under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme now count under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme now count

towards this goal but not towards the UK headline towards this goal but not towards the UK headline indicators for carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas indicators for carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas

emissions or any other National Statistics publications.”emissions or any other National Statistics publications.”

What is to be done?What is to be done?

The Institute of The Institute of Carbon Carbon

AccountingAccounting

The railway transformationThe railway transformation

First passenger railway 1832First passenger railway 1832Railway ‘mania’ began c.1844Railway ‘mania’ began c.1844240 proposals before Parliament, worth 240 proposals before Parliament, worth

£100 million£100 millionBy 1850, around 6,000 milesBy 1850, around 6,000 miles