A Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister backed cross-Government action plan on climate change has been launched (8th March 2011) which sets strict actions and deadlines that Whitehall will have to meet to ensure that the Government lives up to its ‘Greenest Government’ ever aim.

 The Carbon Plan:

• Is being initially published in draft, ahead of a final version in the Autumn – to be updated annually. This will allow the final live version to take account of the fourth carbon budget to be determined later this year. We also want NGOs and others to scour the plan and tell us what’s missing and what we have got right.
• Shows that the delivery of the Government’s low carbon agenda is the shared responsibility of the whole of Government with key actions for BIS, DfT and HMT.
• Will help ensure that each Whitehall department deliver key climate actions for which they are responsible to a clear framework of deadlines. Progress against these deadlines will be published quarterly on the No.10 website.

 In a foreword to the document, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change write:

"This Carbon Plan sets out a vision of a changed Britain, powered by cleaner energy used more efficiently in our homes and businesses, with more secure energy supplies and more stable energy prices, and benefiting from the jobs and growth that a low carbon economy will bring.

Becoming a low carbon economy will be one of the greatest changes our country has ever known. But it is a change for the better, for our economy, our society, and for the planet. This Carbon Plan shows how, together, we can make it happen."

• Click here for more about the Carbon Plan (link)
• Click here to download the Carbon Plan (pdf)