Britain's emissions of greenhouse gases have risen by nearly 20 percent over the past two decades, rather than falling as the government claims, according to a new report published Monday.
Aviation, shipping and the carbon content of imports were left out in the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions in Britain. If these factors are included, Britons' lifestyles will appear to have a much greater effect upon the climate, the report said.
The report entitled "Too Good To Be True? The UK's Climate Change Record" was prepared by a team of economists from Oxford University led by Dieter Helm, an energy expert at New College, Oxford, and two colleagues, Robin Smale and Jonathan Phillips.
According to the report, when the United Nations climate convention's method is used in analyzing the country's emissions, Britain achieved a fall of 5.3 percent in emissions between 1990 and 2005, though there has been a slight rise recently. It has already beaten its Kyoto target of 12.5 percent by December 2008.
However, if the calculation includes international air travel, which Britons are more prone to than other nations, shipping and consumer goods, the trend is "adverse," showing that emissions are continuing to rise and are not under control as the government believes.
Helm said: "The UK may appear to have reduced emissions, but this has been achieved partially by closing down high carbon polluting industries (hence lowering carbon production), but then importing these carbon intensive goods from overseas, notably China and other developing countries."
The report said the implications are stark. Britain has not yet broken the link between economic growth and emissions as claimed by the government.
Source: Xinhua
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