The Future Starts Here: the Route to a Low Carbon Economy

This report summarises research The research report Living Within carried out on behalf of The Unchecked climate change will lead a Carbon Budget concludes that Co-operative Bank’s campaign to more extreme weather and higher the Government must act now to partnership on climate change with sea levels. Billions of lives are at risk, reduce emissions, and within the Friends of the Earth. The research, especially in developing countries next four years must introduce published in full as Living Within a that have done least to cause the a comprehensive action plan Carbon Budget, demonstrates both problem. To avoid this scientists say to substantially reduce energy the need and the means by which we we need to prevent average global consumption and drive innovation. can make a successful, low-carbon temperatures rising any more than Delay will mean the cuts will have to economy a reality in our lifetimes. 2°C above pre-industrial levels. This be greater. will require keeping atmospheric Climate change is one of the greatest concentrations of the main Carbon dioxide emissions have not threats facing humanity and the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, as fallen in the UK since 1990, despite planet. The most comprehensive and far below 450 parts per million as Government claims to the contrary. realistic assessment of the long-term possible. The Government’s fi gures have energy economy of the UK ever ignored emissions from international produced, Living Within a Carbon aviation and shipping. Budget, shows that to avoid the worst Research for The Co-operative Bank impacts of climate change we must and Friends of the Earth by the Friends of the Earth’s Big Ask reduce carbon dioxide emissions Tyndall Centre for Climate Change campaign is calling for a legislative substantially and start putting the at The University of Manchester, framework to deliver year-on-year mechanisms in place to do so very demonstrates for the fi rst time: reductions in carbon dioxide. The soon. The report provides a route Co-operative Bank supports The Big map for the UK to do that – describing • The urgent need to reduce Ask campaign. how we can make the transition to emissions and introduce a a low-carbon economy that sets an comprehensive action plan by Our route map shows how creating example to the rest of the world. 2010. the right policy framework now will • The UK’s carbon budget – how drive the technological solutions much carbon dioxide the UK necessary to make the transition to can release up to 2050 and still cleaner energy sources over the next play its part in tackling climate two decades. It illustrates changes change. in daily life as the UK moves to a • How the UK can develop a clean healthy, low-carbon economy. RESEARCH PARAMETERS economy that lives within this The research assumed that the structure of the UK carbon budget. economy will not change signifi cantly to 2050; and that it will continue to grow at around 2.5 per cent per year. The The full report Living Within a Carbon Budget by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change at the University of research suggests that by 2050 population will increase by Manchester, for The Co-operative Bank and Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, in collaboration around 7 per cent and household numbers by 9.6 per cent. with Friends of the Earth Scotland, can be found at: www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/living_carbon_budget.pdf Taking action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is not just about averting Living Within a Carbon Budget disaster. A low-carbon economy will demonstrates that we can meet our offer social, personal and economic emissions targets by cutting energy benefi ts: consumption now and putting in place within the next four years a • More jobs in sustainable industries. comprehensive programme for change. • More home-grown energy and less reliance on imported oil, gas and coal. Opinion polls show people want the • Cleaner air and fewer road accidents. Government to do more on climate change, • Better health as more people choose to and major businesses have told Tony Blair cycle and walk. they want the Government to act. • Spending less on fl ood defences and clean-up. The UK is highly infl uential in the • Spending less helping poorer countries international community. Committing deal with the impacts of climate to a low-carbon economy will blaze the change. trail for the rest of the world. Daily life does not need to be radically Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David different. In a low-carbon economy we Miliband, as well as David Cameron and will have warm houses, leisure, jobs, Menzies Campbell, must work together and be able to travel. What will change to rise to the challenge of climate change radically is how energy effi cient our lives – a challenge as great as any faced by are, and where we get our energy from. political leaders in the past. Friends of the Earth campaigning in partnership with The Co-operative Bank Making life better for people by inspiring solutions to environmental problems Friends of the Earth England Wales and Northern Ireland The Co-operative Bank 26-28 Underwood Street, London N1 7JQ Campaigns Team Tel: 020 7490 1555 Fax: 020 7490 0881 1 Balloon Street Website: www.foe.co.uk Manchester © Friends of the Earth Trust M60 4EP Company number 1533942, registered charity number 281681 email: [email protected] Printed on paper made from 100 per cent post-consumer waste Website: www.co-operativebank.co.uk/climate September 2006 Friends of the Earth is a founder member of Stop Climate Chaos.

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