Science Story

02 December 2008 23:46 BST

National Grid pledges to cut emissions by 80%

National Grid has announced today that it has set a target to reduce its carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

The company has already cut emissions by 35 per cent from its 1990 rate.

It aims to achieve the emissions reduction by linking carbon budgets with performance management.

National Grid also announced its intention to adopt new carbon budgets across its UK and US electricity and gas businesses from April 2009.

It will aim to integrate them in the management of its day-to-day business operations to encourage 'bottom up' employee involvement to achieve the 80 per cent target.

During the next year National Grid will undertake a review of each National Grid business to enable managers to determine the most effective and economic ways of reducing emissions.

The company will then set annual and five-year emissions targets for each business.

"National Grid has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent against our 1990 base rate, but we need to do more," said National Grid chief executive Steve Holliday.

"Adopting carbon budgets and aligning them to our performance management process will encourage our employees to identify new ways to achieve our challenging 80 per cent reduction target, and ensure emissions remain at the heart of our operational decision-making."

Commenting on the announcement, environment secretary Hilary Benn said it shows the UK "can fight climate change at the same time as delivering secure, reliable energy to businesses and families".

"I congratulate the National Grid on its success to date and its clear ambition in cutting emissions in Britain and abroad," he added.

"I particularly welcome its decision to adopt carbon budgets. This mirrors our approach for Britain as laid out in the climate change bill, which is currently before parliament."