Question 4 The UK made a commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce its greenhouse gas below the levels they were at in 1990 (or in 1995 for a few cases) by 2008-2012. How much is the UK's Kyoto Protocol reduction of greenhouse gases?

The answer is b. The UK's Kyoto Protocol commitment to reduce greenhouse gases is by 12.5% and, we have already achieved it!  Well done UK!  However, the UK also set itself a more challenging target in 1997 to reduce emissions of one particular greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, by 20% below its 1990 level by 2010.  It's looking unlikely that the UK will achieve this, and in fact emissions of carbon dioxide increased between 2005 and 2006, mainly due to increases in power generation from coal rather than gas (source Defra report to Parliament July 2007).  In 2008, the UK's Climate Change Bill is expected to set new long-term greenhouse gas emissions targets of at least 60% by 2050.