Topic: Environmental Impacts of Emerging Energy Technology
Country: United Kingdom
Delegate Name: Rachel Finkelstein
School: Williamston High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All United Kingdom position papers GLIMUN 2010 committees
On April 8, 2010 UK parliament passed Energy Act 2010. This act is requiring four projects to be made by electrical companies in order to capture carbon and store it safely. The act also plans to fund research for clean coal technologies, renewable energy, and distributed generation. The UK would like better energy sources in order for its people to live in healthily. In 2015 the UK plans to install wind technology into its land. The United Kingdom wants energy that is sustainable, secure, and affordable. The way that the UK plans to do this is by using the environment to reduce energy use, making electrical equipment more efficient and effective and with carbon capture.
The UK along with other nations signed a response to the Kyoto Protocol agreed to lower their energy by using renewable energy. This was decided on the amount of renewable energy already being used within the country and its per capita GDP. The UK Government has agreed to several binding emissions reduction targets: 12.5 per cent Green House Gases (GHGs) from 2008–2012 (Kyoto Protocol), 34 per cent CO2 by 2020 (Budget 2009 – increased from 26% in Climate Change Act 2008), and 80 per cent GHGs by 2050 (Climate Change Act 2008). However the government requires that there is a regularly updated program that looks at the impacts of these new energy sources on the environment and to address those risks as a country. The UK believes that the UNFCCC laid guidelines for new energies to emerge and that each country should deal with the risks singly.
