Environment Minister Arlene foster has welcomed the publication of the UK Government's response to the consultation on the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC).

The scheme, which will legally require large users of electricity to reduce their consumption, is designed to save at least four million tonnes of C02 by 2020 – the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road. The CRC will be implemented through the Climate Change Bill which is currently going through Parliament.

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The Minister said: "I believe that the Carbon Reduction Commitment will make a very significant contribution to the reduction of carbon produced by large public and private sector organisations through greater energy efficiency and thereby contributing to the overall reduction of Northern Ireland’s carbon emissions.

"I will be bringing the scheme to both the Environment Committee and the Northern Ireland Executive for policy approval over the coming months."

The Carbon reduction Commitment (CRC) is scheduled to begin operation in 2010 as a mandatory emissions trading scheme that will cover around 5,000 public and private organisations, accounting for 10% of the UK economy.

(JM)