Large Businesses and Public Organisations Consulted on Trading Initiative

Consultation on measures to reduce carbon emissions in large non-energy intensive business and public sector organisations.

In the Energy Review, the Government committed to consult on measures to reduce carbon emissions in large non-energy intensive organisations by 1.2 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2020.

The consultation identifies a range of options for achieving these emissions savings:

* The Energy Performance Commitment (EPC) proposal - a mandatory cap and trade proposal; *

A system of voluntary benchmarking and reporting;

* Longer-term changes to building regulations;

* Enhancing information provision and advice to business; and

* Industry-led agreements to reduce emissions;

In particular, the consultation invites views on two specific options:

* The Energy Performance Commitment (EPC) proposal - a mandatory cap and trade proposal;

* Voluntary Benchmarking and Reporting

The Government is seeking your views on what combination of measures it should consider to deliver these carbon savings. The closing date for comments is 31 January 2007. We are planning on holding a number of workshops across the UK during January.