COMMENT

摘要

Despite the distinct possibility that the UK government will miss its recently revised target of a 34% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 based on 1990 levels, the Environmental Audit Committee's (EAC's) most recent report is now calling for a 42% reduction (see News page 4).rnThe rationale behind this appears to be a need to act urgently -a key message of the Stern Report. More emissions in the near term will result in the world being locked-in to higher temperature rises and the cost of mitigation becomes that much greater. A higher target in 2020 does more to bear down on cumulative emissions, the EAC argues, and is consistent with the key messages from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Stern, that as much action as possible should be taken as early as possible.