CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme

The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (the CRC, formerly the Carbon Reduction Commitment)[1] was a mandatory carbon emissions reduction scheme in the United Kingdom which applied to large energy-intensive organisations in the public and private sectors. It was estimated that the scheme would reduce carbon emissions by 1.2 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2020.[2] In an effort to avoid dangerous climate change, the British Government first committed to cutting UK carbon emissions[broken anchor] by 60% by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels),[3] and in October 2008 increased this commitment to 80%. The scheme has also been credited with driving up demand for energy-efficient goods and services.[4]

The CRC was announced in the 2007 Energy White Paper, published on 23 May 2007. A consultation in 2006 showed strong support for it to be mandatory, rather than voluntary.[5] The Commitment was introduced under enabling powers in Part 3 of the Climate Change Act 2008.[6] A consultation into the scheme's implementation was launched in June 2007.[2] The Scheme was introduced under the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Order 2010.[7]

The Conservative Government withdrew the scheme in 2019.[8]

  1. ^ "CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme". DECC. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b Action in the UK - Carbon Reduction Commitment Archived 2007-06-26 at the Wayback Machine, DEFRA, published 2007-05-23, accessed 2007-05-23
  3. ^ New Bill and strategy lay foundations for tackling climate change Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, DEFRA, published 2007-03-13, accessed 2007-03-23
  4. ^ "CRC boosts the green economy".
  5. ^ Consultation on measures to reduce carbon emissions in the large non-energy intensive business and public sectors Archived 2007-05-31 at the Wayback Machine, DEFRA, published 2006-12-13, accessed 2007-05-23
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2007EWP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Statutory Instrument 2010/768
  8. ^ Environment Agency (2019), CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme: closure guidance for participants, published 12 March 2019, accessed 23 May 2020