Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to prevent further increases in average global temperatures and the extreme impacts of climate change.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most significant greenhouse gas and the UK has a target to reduce CO2 emissions by 34% by 2020 (from 1990 levels). It is generally accepted that 80% reductions will be required by 2050.
Local action is critical to the achievement of the Government’s objectives. The Island’s total carbon emissions in 2005 were 830,000 tonnes (tCO2) or 6 tCO2 per person. These had fallen to 781,000 tCO2 or 5.6 tCO2 per person in 2007 and 768,000 tCO2 or 5.5 tCO2 per person in 2008. Data recently released by DECC shows that in 2009, total Island emissions had fallen to 686,000 tCO2 or 4.9 tCO2 per person.