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Experts

The resources here are specifically designed for use by experts.

Briefings
Consultation Responses
Evidence to Select Committees
Reports

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Briefings

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for Private Rented Homes
(PDF†  133K)  March 2010
The 3.1 million private rented homes in England are often poorly insulated and often house vulnerable families. This briefing makes the case for minimum energy efficiency standards including minimum standards which are progressively raised over time and better financial incentives to encourage investment to the required standard.

Our unstable planet
(PDF†  230K)  December 2009
This briefing takes a look at some current observations of climate change, some of the recent science and how the future may unfold - bringing together some important facts and forecasts to build a view of a warming world and some of the severe consequences for humanity.

Feed-in Tariffs for small scale renewable energy
(PDF†  275K)  December 2009
This briefing for MPs gives an overview of the shortcomings of the government’s proposed Feed-in Tariff scheme to support small scale electricity generation.

Getting Serious About Green Energy
(PDF†  358K)  August 2009
How councils can bring down emissions using local low carbon and renewable energy. 

Getting Serious About Transport
(
PDF†  827K)  August 2009
What your council needs to know about how to cut CO2 from transport.

Low Carbon Transition Plan
(PDF†  386k)  July 2009
Analysis of the Government’s Low Carbon Transition Plan and associated strategies.

Demand Climate Change – Key Milestones for COP 15 Copenhagen Climate Talks
(PDF†  45k)  July 2009
A briefing for MPs on the key issues ahead of the climate talks in Copenhagen in December 2009. 

Ensuring the Climate Change Act delivers
(PDF†  819k)  July 2009
Examines how the implementation of the Climate Change Act will determine how the UK delivers the emissions cuts needed to avert climate change.

Analysis of the First Carbon Budgets
( PDF†  215k)  July 2009
Analysis of the strenths and weaknesses of the Government's first carbon budgets under the Climate Change Act 2008.

Pathways to 40% briefing
(PDF†  544K)  July 2009
Summarises modelling by Carbon Descent that shows how different types of councils can reach 40% cuts by 2020.

Create jobs, save cash, cut carbon
(PDF†  338K)  June 2009
An introductory guide for local government on how they can reach 40% CO2 cuts by 2020.   

Delivering a local low carbon vision
(PDF†  230K)  June 2009
This briefing sets out:

  • The importance of local action on climate
  • What councils can do to cut CO2
  • What framework is needed at national level.

2009 Budget briefing
(PDF†  259k)  April 2009
Friends of the Earth's analysis of how the 2009 financial Budget falls short of delivering the investment and support needed to deliver a low-carbon economy and prevent catastrophic climate change.

The 2020 climate change target
(PDF†  492k)  March 2009
This briefing outlines Friends of the Earth's position in calling for a strong target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

Will the Renewable Energy Strategy deliver?
(PDF†  572k)  February 2009
This briefing outlines the role of Ofgem and shows what the Government must do to make sure the Strategy is strong and sustainable.

The 2008 Poznan climate talks
(PDF†  127k)  December 2008
Friends of the Earth's briefing on the United Nations Conference on climate change.

The EU Climate and Energy Package
(PDF†  270k)  December 2008
Friends of the Earth's briefing on what the package means.

The Kyoto Protocol - An introduction 
(PDF†  422k)  December 2008
An overview of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Carbon Offsetting
(PDF†  354k)  Updated October 2008
Friends of the Earth does not support carbon offsetting. This updated briefing note explains why.

Driving Change - Why we need tough targets for low carbon cars
(PDF†  237K)  March 2008
Making new cars more fuel-efficient could make the biggest single contribution to cutting carbon dioxide emissions from transport in the UK. This briefing explains why tough targets for low carbon cars are essential, and why further action to reduce car use will also be needed.

Fuel tax and climate change: why the Government should stand firm
(PDF†  37K)  March 2008
Fuel tax is due to go up by 2 pence per litre in April. Groups representing hauliers and motorists are calling on the Government to abandon the proposed rise, saying it will damage the haulage industry and the wider economy. This briefing explains why Friends of the Earth believes the Government should stand firm.

Heathrow expansion - its true costs
(PDF†  134K)  February 2008
The Government argues in its Heathrow consultation that economic benefits are the main reason for expanding Heathrow airport. The consultation presents this economic case as a given. However, this economic case is flimsy in the extreme. This briefing presents five main arguments why it should not be accepted.

European Commission - climate and energy package
(PDF†  47K)  January 2008
The UK Government must give a massive boost to its support for renewable power if Britain is to play its part in tackling climate change and meet EU targets for green energy.

Feed-in tariffs
(PDF†  40K)  January 2008
What is a feed-in tariff and why does the UK need one to support renewable electricity?

EU renewables energy target response
(PDF†  110K)  October 2007
Our response to the leaked 'Options Paper' on the EU's 2020 20% renewable energy targets.

Nuclear power is not a solution to climate change
(PDF†  25k)  September 2007
Friends of the Earth opposes any new nuclear power stations in the UK and globally.

Severn Barrage Report
(PDF†  655K)  September 2007
Why Friends of the Earth Cymru opposes the construction of a Severn Barrage.

Aviation and the EUETS
(PDF†  80K)  June 2007
The European Union want to include aviation in their Emissions Trading Scheme. This joint position paper details what needs to be included in the scheme and what else needs to happen to tackle aviation's impact on the climate.

Cleaner cars and greener homes
(PDF†  75K)  March 2007
This briefing sets out Friends of the Earth's detailed demands for tax and spend measures at the Budget to promote greener homes and less polluting cars.

How green was Gordon?
(PDF†  97K)  March 2007
In this briefing Friends of the Earth looks at the environmental record of Gordon Brown's decade (1997 to 2007) as Chancellor through the policy measures he has taken on climate change and other issues in his budgets.

After Stern: towards a climate change Budget
(PDF†  179K)  November 2006
This briefing sets out a broad range of policies to tackle climate change, which could be brought in at the Budget.

Alexander the Great
(PDF†  66K)  November 2006
This briefing examines the need for urgent Government action on aviation and looks at the various solutions proposed to tackle climate change.

New research on the economics of climate change
(PDF†  198K)  October 2006
A briefing to summarise two pieces of research. The first looking at the consequences and colossal economic costs of not tackling climate change. The second setting out how the UK and the EU could set a carbon budget to commit to annual reductions in emissions.

Pie in the Sky
(PDF†  419K)  September 2006
Summary report

(PDF†  66K)
This briefing shows how the economic costs of aviation expansion outweigh the benefits claimed by Government and the industry.

The Energy Review - a short guide
(PDF†  174K)  March 2006
An introduction to the Government's 2006 Energy Review, and what Friends of the Earth's headline responses are - including positive solutions for the way forward and why we don't need nuclear power.

Carbon Capture and Storage
(PDF†  83K)  December 2005
Friends of the Earth's (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) position on carbon capture and storage.

Tackling climate change in the English regions
(PDF†  171K)  October 2005
Spatial planning has a huge effect on greenhouse gas emissions from transport. For example, the use of land use patterns to reduce the need to travel by car and restricting airport development can reduce our climate impact.

Tackling Climate Change through the Budget
(PDF†  105K)  October 2005
Pre-Budget Report briefing:
This briefing shows how the Chancellor can use taxation to address the problem of growing carbon emissions from transport.

Road Pricing
(PDF†  91K)  August 2005
The Government have recently announced proposals for a national road-user charging scheme to reduce congestion - but will it work? And what will it do to tackle climate change?

Why airport expansion is bad for regional economies
(PDF†  105K)  August 2005
Over £17 billion is being sucked out of the UK economy as the amount of money spent abroad by UK residents is up to six times that spent in the regions by overseas visitors. This briefing shows the damage that airport expansion will do to regional economies.

Aviation and the Economy
(PDF†  73K)  May 2005
Aviation is the fastest growing contributor to climate change. The industry claims that the economic impacts of implementing the necessary measures to address this growth outweigh the ecological benefits. This briefing analyses these claims and shows the flaws in the aviation industry's arguments.

Like a bad penny
(PDF†  92K)  October 2004
New bypasses around Hastings have already been rejected by the Government, but local councils in the area are unwilling to take no for an answer, and have submitted yet another proposal.

M6 Expessway: another dead end road?
(PDF†  97K)  October 2004
Explains the Government's M6 Expressway toll proposal, and why the issue is important across the UK, not just in the Midlands and North West.

Oil prices, fuel tax and climate change
(PDF†)  June 2004
Looks at the current and future problems associated with our dependence on oil (including high oil prices and climate change) - and offers some solutions and alternatives.

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Consultation Responses

Strengthening Local Democracy
(PDF†  775K)  October 2009
Friends of the Earth's response outlines our position on local carbon budgets.

Local Transport Plan 3 Guidance
(PDF†  198k)  April 2009
Friends of the Earth response on Local Transport Plan 3 Guidance.

Delivering a Sustainable Transport System 
(PDF†  106k)  March 2009
Friends of the Earth response on Delivering a Sustainable Transport System.

Renewable Energy Consultation 
(PDF†  738k)  October 2008
Friends of the Earth response to the Renewable Energy Consultation.

Friends of the Earth submission to the Government's Aviation Duty Consultation
(PDF†  216K)  April 2008
Friends of the Earth welcomes the introduction of aviation duty as a potentially effective tool to control aviation's climate change impacts. However it is important that the tax is set high enough and is subject to an annual escalator so that it controls aviation emissions and also in recognition of the large tax exemptions that the aviation industry benefits from.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme review response
(PDF†  44K)  March  2008
Review of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme - joint statement on key issues and concerns with other key non-governmental organisations.

Friends of the Earth submission to the Government's Heathrow Consultation
(PDF†  466K)  March 2008
Our response to the consultation focuses on challenging the assumptions on which the Government's growth forecasts and economic case for expansion are based. It asks why a Strategic Environmental Assessment of the proposals hasn't been made and examines the long term climate change implications of the Government's assumptions and consequent expansion policy.

Response to managing radioactive waste safely consultation
(PDF†  129K)  November 2007
Friends of the earth's response to the Government consultation.

Consultation on the reform of the Renewables Obligation response
(PDF†  54K)  September 2007
Friends of the Earth's response to the review of the Renewables Obligation.

Draft Climate Change Bill consultation response
(PDF†  57K)  June 2007
Friends of the Earth's response to the DEFRA consultation on the Draft Climate Change Bill.

Planning Policy Statement consultation response
(PDF†  32K)  March 2007
Friends of the Earth's response to the Government consultation on the Supplement to Planning Policy Statement 1 on Planning and Climate Change.

Reducing carbon emissions from business and the public sector
(PDF†  27K)  March 2007
Friends of the Earth's response to the consultation on measures to reduce carbon emissions in large non-energy intensive business and public sector organisations.

Reducing new car CO2 emissions
(PDF†  55K)  November 2006
A response to the Department for Transport highlighting the need for legally binding standards on carbon emissions from cars.

The Energy Review - Friends of the Earth's submission
(PDF†  186K)  April 2006
Friends of the Earth's full submission to the Government's Energy Review.

Code for Sustainable Homes submission
(PDF†  84K)  March 2006
Friends of the Earth's (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) submission to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's consultation on the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Stern Review submission 2
(PDF†  176K)  March 2006
Friends of the Earth's (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) second submission to the Treasury Stern Review on climate change.

Stern Review submission
(PDF†  365K)  December 2005
Friends of the Earth's (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) submission to the Treasury Stern Review on climate change.

EAC Submission
(PDF†  253K)  October 2005
Friends of the Earth's submission to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Inquiry "Keeping the lights on: nuclear, renewables and climate change".

What the Government should do to tackle climate change
(PDF†  815K)  February 2005
Friends of the Earth's submission to the current review of the UK's climate change policy programme.

UK National Allocation Plan Consultation Response
(PDF†  87K)  June 2004
Friends of the Earth's response to the UK's National Allocation Plan submission for the European Emissions Trading Scheme.

Renewables Obligation Consultation Response
(PDF†  56K)  November 2003
Friends of the Earth's response to the DTI consultation on the Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order 2003.

Friends of the Earth submission to the Government's Aviation Consultation
(PDF†  105K)  June 2003
This summary explains why demand management measures are vital for a sustainable aviation policy.

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Evidence to Select Committees

Reducing Carbon Emissions from Transport
(PDF†  91K)  August 2006
Evidence submitted to the Environmental Audit Committee for their report investigating Government performance on tackling carbon emissions from transport.

A Bright Future - Data
(PDF†  139K)  March 2006
Accompanying data for Friends of the Earth's electricity sector model for 2030.

Road Pricing: Should all roads be toll roads?
(PDF†  58K)  November 2004
Evidence submitted to the House of Commons Transport Committee for their report "Road Pricing: The Next Steps"

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Reports

Getting serious about climate change
(PDF†  500K)   June 2009
How councils can cut carbon, create jobs, and save cash. 

Pathways to 40% carbon reductions
(PDF†  1993K)  June 2009 2009
Modelling comissioned from Carbon Descent shows how different types of councils can reach 40% cuts by 2020.

Cutting carbon locally - and how to pay for it
(PDF†  1260K)  October 2009
Research that shows how pioneering councils have cut carbon – and how to change the rules to make sure all councils can afford to do likewise.

A Dangerous Obsession
(PDF 5.85Mb) November 2009
This report evaluates whether carbon trading can deliver the necessary emissions reductions to avoid dangerous climate change quickly, strategically, and in a just and equitable way. It also looks at what alternative tools are available to governments.
A Dangerous Obsession - Executive Summary

Managing variability
(PDF†  389k)  July 2009
A joint report from Friends of the Earth, WWF, RSPB and Greenpeace on the variability of wind power.

Wind energy: keeping the lights on
(PDF†  434k)  July 2009
Summary report of the Managing Variability report.

A Dangerous Distraction
(PDF†  889k)  June 2009
Friends of the Earth's report which looks at why offsetting is failing the climate and people. A Dangerous Distraction looks in detail at the failings of the Clean Development Mechanism.

A Dangerous Distraction - Executive Summary
(PDF†  572k)  June 2009
Executive summary of Friends of the Earth's report which looks at why offsetting is failing the climate and people.

Making a Climate Commitment
(PDF†  534K)  March 2009
A research report by The Tyndall Centre. Analysis of the first Report of the UK Committee on Climate Change.

REDD myths
(PDF†  1103k)  December 2008
A critical review of proposed mechanisms to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation in developing countries.

Comprehensive Spending Review 2007
(PDF†  240K)  July 2007
How the Government should spend money on transport to reduce carbon emissions.

Developing a carbon budget for the EU
(PDF†  774K)  May 2007
The UK's forthcoming Climate Change Act will set carbon budgets for the UK. This report from consultants Ecofys UK discusses the concept of a similar cumulative carbon budget for the EU.

Climate change - the costs of inaction
(PDF†  262K)  October 2006
This report examines the costs of inaction - the worsening damages that will result from allowing climate change to continue unabated. Economic models have estimated damages as great as US$74 trillion, but even these numbers fail to convey the multiple harms that lie in store for the world.

Developing a carbon budget for the UK
(PDF†  907K)  October 2006
This report is intended as a discussion paper on the concept of a carbon budget for the UK economy. As such, the paper introduces the concept of a carbon budget and explores different system designs that could be used to put such a budgeting system in place.

The Tyndall Report - Living Within a Carbon Budget
(PDF†  835K)  September 2006
This major piece of research demonstrates both the need and the means by which we can make a successful low carbon economy a reality in our lifetimes.

Up In Smoke? Latin America and the Carribean
(PDF†  1807K)  English version
(PDF†  2925K)  Spanish version
September 2006
The third report from the Working Group on Climate Change and Development assesses the threat from climate change to the environment and human development in Latin America and the Carribean, areas particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to large inequalities in the distribution of wealth.

Driving up Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Road Transport
(PDF†  905K)  July 2006
A detailed critique of Government action to reduce transport's contribution to climate change.

Key Asks for the Second Phase of the European Emissions Trading Sceme - Joint Statement
(PDF†  35K)  June 2006
A joint statement by nine organisations of key asks for the second phase of the European Emissions Trading Scheme submitted to the Public Consultation on the draft National Allocation Plan for the period 2008-2012.

Africa - Up in Smoke?
(PDF†  1.38M)  June 2005
Coalition report that makes the links between climate change and Africa, and stresses the need for urgent action. Published to co-incide with the G8 Summit.

Aviation and Climate Change
(PDF†  6.4MB)  June 2005
Summary report

(PDF†  3.2MB)
New research by the independent Tyndall Centre shows how aviation growth could wreck UK and EU policies to tackle climate change.

Up in Smoke?
(PDF†  788K)  May 2005
This report expresses the common concerns surrounding the impacts of climate change on both the environment and peoples human rights, and calls for urgent action from governments to tackle the problem.

Airport Master Plans
(PDF†  312K)  October 2004 (Revised February 2005)
Highlights the risks and potential pitfalls for local authorities as airport operators update their AMPs.

Paying for Better Transport: Costing the 'Way to Go' Manifesto
(PDF†  294K)  May 2004
The Way to Go campaign was launched in February by a coalition of over 25 environment, transport and social justice organisations. These groups want to see a transport system that is better for people, for local neighbourhoods and for the environment. This report looks at the cost of delivering the measures identified in the Way to Go manifesto based on current best practice both from Britain and the rest of Europe. It also identifies the benefits this would deliver; possible sources of funding and which groups in society would benefit the most from implementing these policies.
Summary of the report
(PDF†  266K)  May 2004

Evolution of climate change science, ExxonMobil and its emissions
(PDF†  348K)  January 2004.
Uses the findings from ExxonMobil corporate emissions inventory and examines how Exxon's emissions have grown - even as the scientific evidence for climate change has strengthened.
9 pages.

Assessing the effects of CO2, CH4 and N20 emissions on atmospheric concentrations, changes in radiative forcing, changes in global mean surface temperature, and changes in sea surface level: a case study
(PDF†  1017K)  December 2003
Uses the figures from the study above to run a well known climate model to calculate the contribution these emissions have made, and will make, to different aspects of climate change. By the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd of Auckland, New Zealand. 49 pages.
Also available in French and Spanish

Exxon's climate footprint
(PDF†  915K)  December 2003.
Summarises the findings of the two reports above - and discusses the implications for ExxonMobil. By Friends of the Earth International.
16 pages.

ExxonMobil corporation emissions inventory - 1882 - 2002 Methods and Results
(PDF†  834K)  December 2003.
Estimates the carbon dioxide and methane emissions from ExxonMobil's operations and burning of its products from its early days as the Standard Oil Trust in 1882. The author is from Climate Mitigation Services, Snowmass, Colorado. 31 pages.
The results of this work are also available as a spreadsheet. Two of the main sheets are available to download:
Greenhouse Gas spreadsheet
(PDF† - 313K)
Special Sums spreadsheet

(PDF†  241K)
If you would like to see the entire spreadsheet please use our contact page and choose an option.

Analysis of Co-firing and the Renewables Obligation
(PDF†  1.9MB)  November 2003
An analysis of the effects of co-firing biomass with fossil fuels on the Renewables Obligation. A report prepared by Campbell Carr for Friends of the Earth and the British Wind Energy Association.

Better buses, safer streets for Longsight
(PDF†  1.4MB)  September 2003
Highlights the transport, traffic and safety concerns of the Longsight community in Manchester. Summary in Bangla and Urdu.

Carbon dinosaurs
(PDF†  130K)  August 2003
Details the role of coal-fired power stations in UK climate and energy policy.

Environmental Justice - Mapping transport and social exclusion in Bradford
(PDF†  630K)  October 2001
Summary report
(PDF†  95K)  October 2001
Transport problems exacerbate social exclusion in a number of ways. Air pollution, noise and accidents are concentrated in poorer areas. A poor public transport system denies many people easy access to essential service like hospitals, shops and schools - which is more of a problem for poorer people, as they are less likely to have the alternative of using a car. This report maps these transport-social exclusion links in the District of Bradford, and suggests how they can be overcome.

Less Traffic, More Jobs: The direct employment impacts of developing a sustainable transport system in the UK
(PDF†  194K)  May 1997
Policies to promote car alternatives could lead to the creation of 130,000 new jobs by 2010, which would more than offset the loss of jobs in the motor industry as a result of decreasing car use.

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Last modified: Mar 2010