Part 5: Other provisions
18.Part 5 contains the following measures to reduce emissions:
Waste reduction schemes: the provisions amend the Environmental Protection Act 1990, allowing waste collection authorities designated by the Secretary of State to introduce pilot waste reduction schemes. Following the operation of pilot schemes, the Secretary of State must carry out a review and report to Parliament. After the review of and report on the pilot schemes, the provisions allow the Secretary of State to extend provisions for use by other waste collection authorities (with any necessary amendments) or to repeal the provisions. Provision is also made about receptacles for the collection of household waste;
Charges for single use carrier bags: the provisions introduce enabling powers to make regulations about charging by sellers of goods for the supply of single use carrier bags. The regulations may also require records relating to the charges to be kept and made publicly available. The provisions also include powers to create civil sanctions in the form of fixed monetary penalties and discretionary requirements for breaches of the regulations;
Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations: the provisions amend Chapter 5 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2004 which provides for the Secretary of State by order to set up a renewable transport fuel obligations scheme. The amendments will introduce a new power to replace the Administrator with a new Administrator, who may be the Secretary of State, and to transfer functions accordingly; amend the provisions which determine how sums received by the Administrator are to be dealt with; give the Secretary of State a power to issue written directions to the Administrator; impose a duty on the Administrator to promote the supply of sustainable fuel which has a beneficial environmental effect; and set up an information gateway to allow disclosure of information by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to the Administrator;
Carbon emissions reduction targets: the provisions amend the Gas Act 1986, the Electricity Act 1989 and the Utilities Act 2000 to allow for the introduction of a community energy saving programme;
Reporting requirements in Wales: the Welsh Ministers are to publish from time to time a report on their objectives, actions and priorities in relation to greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of climate change in Wales. The provisions also make amendments to the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006, transferring to Welsh Ministers the responsibility for publishing guidance for local authorities in Wales on climate change (currently a UK Government responsibility);
Reporting of emissions: the provisions require the Secretary of State to issue guidance to companies and other persons wishing to report their emissions, in order to increase the consistency and comparability of reported figures. The Secretary of State is also required to conduct a review of the contribution that reporting can make to achieving the Government’s objectives in relation to climate change. Finally, the Secretary of State is required to introduce mandatory reporting of emissions by companies by 6th December 2012 or to lay a report before Parliament explaining why he has chosen not to do so;
Report on the civil estate: the Treasury is placed under an obligation to make annual reports to Parliament on the progress that has been made towards improving the efficiency and contribution to sustainability of buildings on the civil estate;
Offsetting: the provisions give the Government and the devolved administrations the power to offset greenhouse gas emissions by acquiring units representing emissions reductions, units representing removals of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, or units in schemes which cap emissions levels. Those bodies are also allowed to acquire interests in units;
Making a minor amendment to section 105(2) of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 to enable an increase in fines for pollution offences.
