CRC will impact on consumer habits, says carbon expert

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will publish league tables under the CRC so consumers can see how different companies compare in terms of carbon emissions.

Companies will have to buy carbon allowances according to the amount of energy they use, which will be repaid by the government at the end of the year plus or minus a bonus, depending on whether the business has met its energy reduction targets.

According to King, the UK currently emits 800 million tonnes of carbon per annum, which equates to 11 tonnes per person. The government target is to cut this by 80% by the mid-century so each person is allowed to emit only two tonnes of carbon per annum. “Consumers are a massive part of the CRC,” he said.

Professor Michael Kelly, chief scientific advisor to communities and local government, added that the target is to get to the point where people “will volunteer to make the choice of lower energy consumption”.

Tesco’s director of government relations and communities David North highlighted the work the retailer has done with its suppliers in “understanding supply chain emissions and working to reduce these”.

He said that Tesco has already implemented schemes to reward consumers for reusing plastic bags, which has consequently halved plastic bag use.

North also highlighted that in 2007 Tesco entered into a £25m joint venture with the University of Manchester to establish the Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI) to tackle climate change and address consumers’ ‘green’ requirements.

The CRC will cover the light industry, supermarket chains, hotel groups, other retailers, telecoms, companies as well as local authorities, state schools and central government departments.

The panel’s comments follow Alistair Darling’s budget commitment yesterday to cut carbon emissions by 34% by 2020.

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