"Government and businesses must work together to tackle carbon emissions," environment minister Phil Woolas yesterday.
He announced a consultation on measures to simplify the regulations businesses face in cutting CO2 emissions, alongside new work from government economists, which gives more weight to the cost of carbon in policy decisions.
Woolas said: "Last week in Bali, we set a clear agenda for negotiating a new global agreement to fight climate change. We must make the most cost-effective emissions cuts, and we must prove to the world that fighting climate change is compatible with economic growth.
"This consultation shows once again that we're serious about tackling emissions in the UK and that doing so doesn't need to undermine competitiveness. It's all about making sure that we get the biggest cuts in carbon dioxide possible for the money spent.
"Working together, government and businesses must show leadership in tackling emissions, without jeopardising prosperity. In fact, growth brings innovation and resources - which can help us to tackle emissions."
Defra is consulting on a new package of measures to cut duplication and unduly complex bureaucracy, cutting costs to businesses and making it easier for them to cut emissions. The consultation responds to requests from businesses who want to cut emissions but find existing regulations complex and confusing.
The package of measures seeks to eliminate avoidable overlap simplify existing regulations, and ensure that the regulatory burden on the economy is kept to a minimum. Some of these measures will be of particular benefit to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), but the package as a whole is intended to simplify regulation for all businesses.
In keeping with its better regulation agenda, Defra decided to undertake a review of its three main climate change instruments - the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, Climate Change Agreements, and the proposed Carbon Reduction Commitment.
The second paper, by government economists, significantly raises the value attached to carbon emissions or savings from all new policies and projects across government. It brings the value of carbon used in government decision-making into line with the Stern Review - increasing it by 17 per cent for emissions in 2020, 32 per cent in 2030; and 67 per cent in 2050, compared with previous guidance.
This means that, wherever new policies or projects have a significant impact on emissions, advice to Ministers will take greater account of the carbon impact. That includes not just environmental measures, but applies across government - including for example transport, construction and infrastructure projects. It will make sure that lower-carbon options are recommended wherever they are economically and socially justified.
The government is seeking views on options in the document, including:
* Recommendations for reducing overlap;
* Methods for streamlining monitoring and reporting;
* Ways to share data better;
* How to ensure all domestic policies add value to international ones.
Businesses and others have until March 19, 2008 to respond.
Key questions that the Government is seeking views on include:
* Ensuring all domestic policies add value to international interventions.
* Removing overlap between policies such that the same emissions are not targeted multiple times;
* Methods for streamlining monitoring and reporting;
* Ways to better share data;
* Improving consistency and coherence between various policy interventions; and
* Reducing the administrative burden of these policies on smaller businesses.
Defra will review the measure over the coming year, taking into account in particular further information on the costs of abating carbon emissions,. The new guidance (with background information) can be accessed online at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/research/carboncost/index.htm