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<p>The Government publishes annual estimates of the UK’s carbon footprint on a consumption
basis. The latest statistics were published on 11 April and show the footprint for
years 1997 to 2016: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uks-carbon-footprint"
target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uks-carbon-footprint</a>. Carbon
footprint measured in this way refers to emissions that are associated with the consumption
spending of UK residents on goods and services, wherever in the world these emissions
arise along the supply chain, and those which are directly generated by UK households
through private motoring etc. These emissions are often referred to as ‘consumption
emissions’ to distinguish them from estimates relating to the emissions ‘produced’
within a country’s territory or economic sphere.</p><p> </p><p>As stated in the Resources
and Waste Strategy, the Government’s goal is to maximise the value of the resources
we use, minimise the waste we create, cut emissions and help create a cleaner, greener,
healthier planet. In the Strategy we have committed to measures that will improve
resource efficiency, prevent waste and cut carbon consumption emissions.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>Climate change is a global challenge. The UK is a world leader in cutting emissions
while creating wealth. Between 1990 and 2017, the UK reduced its emissions by over
40 per cent while growing the economy by more than two thirds. We have met our first
two Carbon Budgets and are on track to meet the third. In addition, our consumption
emissions are falling. Greenhouse gas emissions on a consumption basis fell by 6%
between 2015 and 2016; and by 21% between 2007 and 2016.</p><p> </p><p>UK International
Climate Finance (ICF) plays a crucial role in addressing this global challenge. Three
government Departments (DFID, BEIS and Defra) have responsibility for investing the
UK’s £5.8bn of ICF between 2016 and 2021. These investments aim to support international
poverty eradication now and in the future, by helping developing countries to manage
risk, adapt to and build resilience to the impacts of climate change; promoting low
carbon development at scale; and supporting sustainable management of natural resources
and reducing deforestation. Between 2011/12 and 2017/18, it is estimated that ICF
programmes have reduced or avoided 10.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
(tCO2e).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Energy and trade intensive businesses create particular
challenges, where ambitious climate change targets could risk carbon leakage. As the
Clean Growth Strategy sets out, we remain committed to carbon pricing as an emissions
reduction tool whilst ensuring energy and trade intensive businesses are appropriately
protected from any detrimental impacts on competitiveness.</p><p> </p><p>During Phase
IV negotiations on the EU Emissions Trading System the UK supported the provision
of free allocation as a precaution against the risk of carbon leakage; as the UK leaves
the EU our preferred position is to have a UK ETS that is linked to the EU ETS and
in that scenario, as set-out in our recent consultation on the future of carbon pricing,
we propose to continue the provision of free allocation to industry to help ensure
a smooth transition and continued protection against carbon leakage.</p><p> </p>
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