Britain has emerged as a global leader on climate change action, by pressing for an ambitious deal at Copenhagen, investing in advanced energy technologies and helping its citizens and industries make the transition to a low carbon, high-growth economy.  

The European Union has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and by 30 percent if a robust deal is reached at Copenhagen. The UK is on track to make those cuts and more.

The 2008 Climate Change Act made Britain the first country in the world with legally binding emissions targets: 34 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. In June, the Government’s Low Carbon Transition Plan introduced five-yearly carbon budgets.

The UK is investing billions in clean coal technolgoies.

The UK is also helping its citizens cope with climate change, with funds to help households and communities become more energy efficient and industry to develop electric cars and other emission-cutting technologies. The government-backed Carbon Trust offers zero interest loans to businesses to reduce their carbon footprint. Various low carbon innovations are under way for the 2012 London Olympics, the world's first sustainable games, with recycling and renewable energy at the heart of infrastructure planning.

Efforts to address climate change have gone hand in hand with economic growth. Between 1990 and 2005, the economy grew by more than 30 percent, while greenhouse gas emissions fell by more than 12 percent.

More recently, a White Paper on climate change and energy explained exactly how the UK will achieve its emissions targets through action in every sector of the economy, while maintaining energy security and protecting the most vulnerable in society. A Low-Carbon Industrial Strategy set out the investments needed to maximise the economic benefits of becoming a low carbon economy.

Renewable energy plays a key role. By 2020, Britain aims to generate around 40 percent of its electricity from low carbon sources, such as renewables, nuclear and carbon capture storage (CCS) technology, which reduces emissions from coal-fired power stations. The UK is also urging for accelerated deployment of CCS globally as well as recognition of the critical part the technology can play in a Copenhagen deal.

With less than 100 days to Copenhagen, the UK is pushing for a deal that is:

• Ambitious - limiting global warming to 2 C, with global emissions peaking by 2020 and falling fast thereafter. 
• Effective - keeping all countries to their pledges, and letting carbon markets direct money to where it will make most difference.
• Fair - supporting the poorest countries to cut their emissions and adapt to climate change.  

“This is make or break time for our climate and our future," UK Climate and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said.

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