guardian.co.uk: (UK) Emissions reductions are misleading, says government's new science adviser

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/01/carbon-emissions-david-mackay

Emissions reductions are misleading, says government's new science adviser

UK's true energy footprint is twice as big as on paper, according to Professor David MacKay

David Adam, environment correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 1 October 2009 13.28 BST

Britain's reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases are misleading, according to the government's new chief scientist.

Professor David MacKay told the BBC that greenhouse gas emissions created by Britons are probably twice as bad as official figures suggest. The figures are distorted because developing countries now made the goods that Britain buys, he said.

"Our energy footprint has decreased over the last few decades and that's largely because we've exported our industry," MacKay said. "Other countries make stuff for us so we have naughty, naughty China and India out of control with rising emissions but it's because they are making our stuff for us now."

MacKay, a Cambridge University physicist who starts his new job at the Department of Energy and Climate Change(Decc) today, was speaking unofficially in a previously recorded interview. His comments come as talks on a global climate deal continue in Bangkok. The issue of allocating emissions has been highlighted by developing countries including China, whose top climate change negotiator Li Gao earlier this year said developed countries should take responsibility for the emissions generated in making goods.

…

[Nihil]

1. Wow ... that was a refreshing dose of honesty!

You can tell he's the new guy can't you?

He'll soon bow down to "political expediency" or be replaced by
another bought-out twat from the Sainsbury mould ...

Still, maybe he can make some real progress in the meantime with
that attitude.
:toast: