Every individual in Britain could be issued with a "personal carbon
allowance" - a form of energy rationing - within a decade, under
proposals being considered seriously by the Government.
Ministers say that increasingly clear evidence that climate change is
happening more quickly than expected has made it necessary to "think
the unthinkable".
Elliot Morley: ‘We should have an open mind’ They believe they need to
start a public debate on energy rationing now if Tony Blair's
aspiration of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by two thirds by 2050 is
to be achieved.
Under the scheme for "domestic tradeable quotas" (DTQs), or personal
carbon allowances, presented to the Treasury this week, everyone - from
the Queen to the poorest people living on state benefits - would have
the same annual carbon allocation.
This would be contained electronically on a "ration card", which could
be the proposed ID card or a "carbon card" based on supermarket loyalty
cards.
It would have to be handed over every time a form of non-renewable
energy was purchased - at the filling station, or when buying tickets
for a flight - for points to be deducted.
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Complete article The Telegraph
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