14 DAY TRIAL // The United Kingdom took another important step in its fight against global warming recently, as government officials decided to review the policy that would regulate the exact amounts of carbon that could be legally emitted in the atmosphere by all industrial or economical processes in the country. The new form of the Climate Change Bill will force the nation's emission to an 80 percent cut by 2050.
The news was saluted by environmentalists, who say that the decision will put an end to recent rumors that shed doubt on Britain's commitment to fighting climate change. Though aviation and shipping are the two largest pollutants in the country, it would appear that the government will advise its ministers to also consider carbon caps when calculating their budgets over the next few years.
However, Joan Ruddock, UK environment minister, says that the only way to successfully fight global warming and its effects is through international agreements, such as the Kyoto protocol and other similar ones. Only this time they would also have to force signing parties to stick by them, not only advise nations of the dangers, as the Kyoto treaty did. The European Union has already taken the first steps towards a greener continent, with all its 27 members committing to reducing their carbon emissions by 2020.
Some people feared the aviation would not be included in the bill, because of its huge fuel requirements. Attempts are already underway to replace the millions of gallons of kerosene used each year with soya or algae biofuel, but so far results show that, even by 2020, only about a third of all necessities will be covered from alternate sources.
Friends of the Earth Executive Director Andy Atkins, added "Developing a low carbon economy here in the UK is the only way to deliver on the law, move Britain out of recession and into a greener more prosperous future," in response to some critics who had said that the 80 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2050 was an unreachable target.