Q&A: Your climate change concerns

Minister for Climate Change and Environment, Elliot Morley, answers some of your questions and concerns on climate change.

Q: How can I help reduce carbon emissions, and what incentives will be given to those who actively participate in the reduction of carbon emissions?
Bobby Miah, Birmingham

In terms of reducing carbon emissions, have a look at your home; have you got proper insulation? You might be eligible for subsidised cavity wall insulation and loft insulation and you can get details from your energy supplier. You can also fit energy saving lightbulbs and make sure that you're not leaving electrical equipment on standby; in the case of TVs you can use up to 80% of the energy on standby on some models and also when you're buying new goods, look for the A or A+ rated appliances, particularly on things like fridges, dishwashers, washing machines.

Q: What provision concerning climate change is the average householder required to make? How will it affect our pocket and what changes to everyday life can be expected over the next 50 years?
Peter Jackson, Bexhill-On-Sea

If you can cut your energy you can cut your bills, so there's a potential win-win here; you can actually save money and save the planet. I would also say don't forget the benefits of recycling; it's not just about reducing resources, it's about reducing energy; cans made from recycled cans, paper from recycled paper, use much less energy than taking the raw material. High levels of recycling also make a contribution.

Q: How does a private individual "sell" electricity to the national grid? Putting power into the grid is a tricky affair and involves careful phasing. Can it really be done, or is this idea just a sop to the tree-huggers?
Jon H, Stockport

At the moment, you can sell energy from micropower to the grid; there are issues about the price you get for this; you preferably need a smart meter but you can do it generally in terms of exporting electricity - take it from me, it can be done. We are also looking at how we can make it easier; John might also be interested to know that for people who fit solar panels or micro wind turbines to their homes then they do get a share of what are called Renewable Obligation Certificates because they are producing renewable energy; they can claim a share of that - it's about £70 for a small-scale solar panel or wind turbine.

Q: How seriously has the government taken the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's carbon quota recommendation? And what does the Minister believe needs to happen in this country before carbon quotas become a reality?
Jon Barnard, Cambridge

As for how seriously we take the IPCC's carbon quota recommendation: we are guided by the IPCC. Our domestic targets of 20% reductions by 2010 and 60% by 2050 are based on their recommendations; people might have noticed that in the budget, the government is considering moving to carbon accounting; this is a pre-requisite before you can move to carbon quotas. The idea of carbon quotas and personal carbon allowances is an interesting one we should explore; I don't think the time is quite right for these kind of changes, mainly because of the very complex administrative operation that you would need to set it up; but we should look at it and carbon accounting is one way forward.

Q: Why do the airlines and industry escape most of the burden of taxation in respect of carbon emissions, when the private motorist - responsible for 10% of carbon emissions - is made to bear a disproportionate amount of punitive taxes?
Paul Matthes, Colchester

It is true that airlines are not making a contribution at the present time; it's true that there's more tax on motorists because aviation fuel is tax-free through international agreement; aviation is responsible for about three per cent of emissions and motorists about 10%; we want to include aviation under the "cap and trade" scheme and under our presidency of the EU last year we got political agreement to do that, so now we are talking abut the processes to implement it.

Q: Why hasn't the government forced industry to act quicker and in a more decisive way?
Chris Pidgley, London

In terms of this question about industry, Chris ought to bear in mind that this government pioneered the climate change levy; it wasn't popular but it is working and companies pay a tax through the levy - but if they enter into climate change agreements then they can get 80% discounts; that alone has been responsible for million tonnes of carbon savings, so we are taking action. We also pioneered cap and trade, and had the world's first national carbon trading scheme; we also led the world in developing the software for the registry for the EU Emissions Trading Scheme; there's always more that we can do and we mustn't be complacent about this and we need to look at all ways we can get reductions, not just from industry but also from other sections of the economy as well.

Q: Why do they not force new build properties to install items like solar panels? With all the house building going on in the South East, this surely would make an impression on the amount of electricity we use.
Catherine Beak, Sittingbourne

This question raises issues of housing; we are introducing a new code of sustainable building which has five levels; the top level, level five, does include the installation of things like solar panels; level five is basically zero emissions housing and we are giving some thought about how we can incentivise that but we know that there are some companies interested. We want to see some exemplar developments as part of the growth areas in terms of sustainable communities, including things like renewable energy; and I know the Housing Corporation, which finances publicly built houses, has been doing this. I visited a development recently where rented houses had solar panels, solar heating and very high levels of insulation; they were very attractive houses as well.

Q: Do you feel that the government's policies are joined up? Little money is put into public transport, the extra runways being built in the south east, the low rate of car tax, weak legislation on housing insulation and glazing - these seem inconsistent. Do you feel that your wishes/desires are over-ridden by other government departments?
Ben Taylor, Norwich

On Tuesday, we had a launch involving ministers from a range of government departments; it is not the case that no money is going into public transport; billions of pounds are being put into our rail system and we are seeing changes in people's travelling patterns; we are seeing a decline in travelling by air from the north west since the introduction of the new Pendolinos; they can go faster because of the money that has been spent by the government on signalling and track infrastructure. We have changed the rates of car tax, encouraging energy efficiency and providing grants for that, so it's not fair to say that we aren't taking a joined-up approach. You can always argue that departments should be doing more and I am keen they do that.

Q: With important issues, such as radioactive waste, and given a party's finite term in governance, how can policy longevity and not populist pandering be ensured?
Matthew Jones, London

Matthew Jones raises questions about radioactive waste and long-term planning; he is absolutely right that radioactive waste and nuclear power is a long-term issue; we have an independent committee, CoRWM, which was set up to advise us on long-term options of safe storage of nuclear waste; it will be reporting in July and we will act on their report.

Q: Do you think that the government has looked at and fully assessed the risks long term of nuclear power, for example the length of time involved in decommissioning sites?
Colin Spottiswoode, Bristol

We have a good record on nuclear safety in this country; not perfect, but there are issues of the cost benefits, decommissioning, long-term storage of nuclear waste; these are issues that will feature in the equation. We are having an Energy Review at the present time; it will consider these issues and won't be ignored.

Q: Defra manages both climate change issues and rural affairs so why cannot the government publish all the relevant cost/benefits to let energy crops compete properly as a way of reducing the net carbon emissions in the UK?
Julian Paren, Cambridge

Biofuels have an important role to play; there are costs and benefits with energy crops. We are providing a subsidy of 2p per litre for biofuel and for ethanol. There are also other benefits in relation to the fact the fact farmers are encouraged to grow energy crops on set aside land; also we are providing some capital assistance to set up processing plants in this country; and we have introduced a biofuels obligation which will mean the oil companies have to buy 5% of their oil in the form of ethanols and biodiesels. It will have a huge impact on setting up a biofuels industry in this country, which I welcome. Also we have measures to promote biomass heating as well, which have been announced in terms of capital support for setting up heating plants and we will be responding to Sir Ben Gill's task force recommendations on this soon.

I very much welcome the opportunity to answer these questions and believe BBC News Interactive offers a valuable service in terms of having an open and genuine debate on these issues.