Energy is an essential aspect our lives, we need it to heat our homes and power our businesses. Over the last few decades we have increased our reliance on cheap and convenient energy from fossil fuels, without considering the effects on the environment, or on the overall supply chain.

As a result of this we now face two major challenges:

• Tackling climate change both within the UK and abroad.
   
• Securing affordable energy as we continue to see volatility in fuel prices and we become increasingly reliant upon imported fuel - we have been a net importer of coal since 2001.
   

To tackle these challenges there are now large pieces of international and national legislation in place to limit the effects of climate change. There are also several economic mechanisms to support renewable alternatives. These exist in the UK in the form of the 2008 Energy Act and the 2008 Planning and Energy Act - http://www.decc.gov.uk

The following is a summary of key climate change targets:

 
International - Kyoto Agreement (1997) and the European Union

Under the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union and its Member States have agreed to meet a joint target of an 8 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2012.

 
EU - Renewables Directive (2001)

We agreed with our EU partners to a binding target that 20% of the EU's energy consumption must come from renewable sources by 2020. The European Commission has proposed that the UK's contribution to this should be to increase the share of renewables in our energy mix from around 1.5% in 2006 to 15% by 2020.

 
UK Government - Climate Change Act (2008)

The UK has set a legally binding target of at least an 80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to be achieved through action in the UK and abroad. Also a reduction in CO2 emissions of at least 26% by 2020. Both these targets are against a 1990 baseline. The 2020 target is currently being reviewed to reflect the move to all greenhouse gases, and the increase in the 2050 target to 80%.