Think-tank moots carbon rationing as UK's plan B

The UK government should have a "carbon rationing" Plan B in place if current measures to tackle carbon emissions are not successful, according to a leading think-tank.

The Institute for Public Policy Research issued a report this week, Plan B? The Prospects For Personal Carbon Trading, which sets out what options are available to government if current approaches to combat climate change are not effective.

Although the IPPR admits that it would be a drastic and expensive move, the concept of personal carbon trading may become necessary if other measures fail to substantially reduce the nation's carbon emissions.

"If at the end of the UK’s first carbon budget period in 2012 carbon emissions have not reduced, the government will need to face up to the prospect of introducing personal carbon trading as a ‘plan B’," the IPPR said in a statement.

Personal carbon trading would work in a similar way to current industrial carbon trading models with everyone in the UK allotted carbon credits.

"Unlike food rations during the war, carbon credits would be tradeable, so people with small carbon footprints could sell their spare credits, while people with gas guzzlers and houses full of energy-hungry gadgets would need to buy extra credits to cover their extra emissions," the IPPR stated.

Over time the amount of carbon credits allotted to people would decrease, forcing the UK populace to adopt more sustainable lifestyles, the think-tank suggested.

Matthew Lockwood, an associate director with the IPPR, likened the plan to rationing during the Second World War - an extreme measure for extreme times.

"Rationing was introduced in September 1939 to help win the Second World War. Now the government may need to think about rationing carbon if we are to win the fight against climate change," he said.

Lockwood added that personal carbon trading shouldn't be a first option, but should still be considered.

"The government should start preparing a ‘plan B’ in case current policies fail to deliver. We can lay the groundwork now by giving people much better information about the carbon they are emitting, whether at home or at the petrol pump," he said.

The IPPR admits that its plan would be both expensive and unpopular with consumers.

"IPPR’s study estimates that personal carbon trading would be an expensive option, costing in the region of £1.4 billion a year to administer the millions of carbon accounts that would be needed. It is also likely to be unpopular," the report says.

The report will be officially launched at an event on Friday 11 September featuring Simon Hughes MP, Liberal Democrat shadow secretary of state for energy and climate change, and Simon Roberts, chief executive, Centre for Sustainable Energy.