2006

Tyndall report outlines UK route to low carbon economy
1 September 2006

A new report by Friends of the Earth and The Co-operative Bank, shows how the Government has only four years to cut carbon emissions if the UK is to play its part in tackling climate change.

The report is based on research carried out by The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Manchester. It is the UK's first comprehensive route map to a low carbon economy.

The study shows the total amount of carbon dioxide the UK can emit between now and 2050. It also outlines what the Government could do - and when - to keep within this carbon budget.

Key messages

The report describes how:

  • Sufficient emissions reductions can be made by using technologies which are - or are close to - market ready.

  • The UK can cut its carbon emissions at a manageable rate if the Government implements a major programme of action within the next 4 years.

  • The UK needs to achieve significant emission cuts - of around 70 per cent - within the next 30 years and it is possible to do so.

Low carbon future

The report also maps out how homes, business and transport in the UK could change as a result.

For example by the 2030's we could expect to be living in a world where:

  • travel between cities and to the continent is by double decker high speed train
  • homes and businesses generate some of their own energy through mini wind turbines and solar panels fixed to their roofs.

By 2050 the research envisages a world where:

  • people fill up their cars at multi fuel stations which provide a choice of electricity, biofuels or hydrogen
  • hydrogen fuel cells are routinely used to provide heat and power in homes.

The future starts here

Cover of The Future Starts Here

'The future starts here...'
(PDF† - 1.4M) Sept 2006.
4 page summary of the research.

'The future starts here..'
(PDF† - 2.8 M) Sept 2006.
20 page summary of the research.

'Living within a Carbon Budget'
(PDF† - 835K) Oct 2006.
The full report from the Tyndall Centre.

If you would like hard copies of the full report or the summary please let us know.

Next steps

Friends of the Earth's The Big Ask campaign and The Co-operative Bank are calling on the Government to introduce a climate change law.

The law will commit the UK to making annual cuts in our carbon emissions as a first step towards implementing the route map.


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