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Climate Change
I am proud that the UK under Labour is leading the world in tackling climate change, and it is one of the UK's priorities during our 2005 G8 presidency.
The Facts
The Labour Government believes that tackling climate change is an economic imperative, given the potential scale of economic impacts and costs arising from inaction.
Labour set up the world's first economy wide greenhouse gas trading scheme.
The UK is already ahead of our Kyoto target - 5 years before we have to meet it. We are on course to be 21% below 1992 levels of emissions by 2010 (the Kyoto target is 12.5%).
In the Energy White Paper set a goal of 60% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050.
Margaret Beckett launched an extensive and open consultation on the review of the UK Climate Change Programme, and highlighted areas where the Government has identified opportunities to further reduce carbon emissions, such as EU Emissions Trading Scheme, Energy Efficiency, Biomass, Transport and Biofuels.
Labour brought in the Climate Change Levy on industry in 2001 - the CCL is forecast to reduce carbon emissions by at least 5m tones a year by 2010.
What else is Labour doing to reduce carbon emissions?
Improve energy efficiency - we have doubled the level of the Energy Efficiency Commitment on energy suppliers, introduced tighter regulations for new homes, and provided advice and support for the public and business though the Carbon Trust and Energy Savings Trust.
Investing in renewable energy - Labour has set a target of 10% of electricity to be supplied by renewables by 2010. We have legislated for a Renewables Obligation on electricity suppliers which will rise to 15% in 2015 and are spending over £500m on offshore wind, energy crops, biomass and community schemes.
The Alternatives.
The Tories oppose some of the most important elements of our climate change programme.
They opposed the EU emissions trading scheme proposals and Labour's renewable energy programme.
They would abolish the Climate Change Levy and cut spending on environmental protection and conservation.