Britain exceeds Kyoto target of 12.5% reduction in carbon emisssions since 1990

scorza · 2 Feb 2010 at 16:53

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/02/carbon-emissions-kyoto

Great news - think everyone deserves a pat on the back. Slight shame we won't meet the government's own target of 20% but hey, targets are supposed to be challenging.

The UK is demonstrating the kind of year-on-year reductions that set an example in the world community.

:thumbsup:

sammo62 · 2 Feb 2010 at 16:54

We use a few cheat methods, like selling our excess rubbish to poor countries though.

Cosimo · 2 Feb 2010 at 17:03

The article is only for 2008.

According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the decrease is the result of continuing to switch from coal to natural gas for making electricity, combined with lower consumption of fossil fuels in industry and transport.

But emissions from households rose by more than 3%, as people used more fossil fuels to heat their homes.

So a big pat on the back for all households.

Biohazard · 2 Feb 2010 at 17:05

Scotland will hold the trump (haha get it?) card in the long run, and will probably reach their high targets.

Wonder why we bother so hard when the rest of the UK will be lagging behind.

Fenris · 2 Feb 2010 at 17:07

The UK is demonstrating the kind of year-on-year reductions that set an example in the world community.

Oh great, now we're that kid from primary school with blond hair that brought a brief case to school and always got picked by the teacher to get things from the stationary cupboard.

Everyone always hates that kid.

Dolph · 2 Feb 2010 at 17:08

What a shame it is completely pointless in the grand scheme of things when other countries are ramping up emissions in ways that utterly dwarf our cuts...

It's like celebrating that you stopped a leak in the kitchen while ignoring the fact that every other tap in the house has been torn off...

[TW]Fox · 2 Feb 2010 at 17:09

scorza said:
Great news

Why? We are damaging our own economy for changes which on a global scale are utterly meaningless because of the size of our island.

Cyanide · 2 Feb 2010 at 17:18

Great, we've met the target. Now can we pleeeeease stop banging on about CO2 emmissions like they're the single most important thing in the world?

PlacidCasual · 2 Feb 2010 at 17:31

Maggie Thatcher is probably the person most responsible for the UK meeting it's Kyoto targets. I wonder how the watermelons like that?

Jokester · 2 Feb 2010 at 17:33

We've exported all our high carbon producing industries to other countries, that's why we've seen a decline in our own emissions. If the CO2 emissions were included from all the products we import it would still show a rise.

Cosimo · 2 Feb 2010 at 17:36

Cyanide said:
Great, we've met the target. Now can we pleeeeease stop banging on about CO2 emmissions like they're the single most important thing in the world?

No, because they are the most important thing in the world.

scorza · 2 Feb 2010 at 17:57

Jokester said:
We've exported all our high carbon producing industries to other countries, that's why we've seen a decline in our own emissions. If the CO2 emissions were included from all the products we import it would still show a rise.

Then we should stop buying stuff from countries that refuse to make an effort to reduce their CO2 emissions in accordance with the Kyoto protocol.

Tute · 2 Feb 2010 at 17:58

Cyanide said:
Great, we've met the target. Now can we pleeeeease stop banging on about CO2 emmissions like they're the single most important thing in the world?

No, the government needs GW as an excuse to tax.

Cosimo · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:00

scorza said:
Then we should stop buying stuff from countries that refuse to make an effort to reduce their CO2 emissions in accordance with the Kyoto protocol.

What if you can’t get the goods elsewhere or they are much more expensive?

OpenToSuggestions · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:03

All this means jack **** when China are building coal power plants on a weekly basis.

It is like having a big room and having 90% non-smoking but a few people in one corner smoking - It ruins the air for everyone.

Unless the whole world takes part, what we are doing achieves nothing except it is an excuse to tax us more.

scorza · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:04

simulatorman said:
What if you can’t get the goods elsewhere or they are much more expensive?

Then you make them here and pay more for them.

Jokester · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:06

scorza said:
Then we should stop buying stuff from countries that refuse to make an effort to reduce their CO2 emissions in accordance with the Kyoto protocol.

People don't give a **** about it at the end of the day.

Tefal · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:13

scorza said:
Then we should stop buying stuff from countries that refuse to make an effort to reduce their CO2 emissions in accordance with the Kyoto protocol.

Yay! Destroy the economy, then get ****ed when it changes anyway! \o/

mmj_uk · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:13

We shipped all of our manufacturing jobs overseas to China so that they could pollute for us instead, yes well done our economy is booming as a result...

Tefal · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:15

mglover070588 said:
All this means jack **** when China are building coal power plants on a weekly basis.

It is like having a big room and having 10% non-smoking in the center, but a every other customer smoking.

Unless the whole world takes part, what we are doing achieves nothing except it is an excuse to tax us more.

Fixed that for you