Because the UK is an island, insufficient resources and an easily changeable climate put a great importance on sustainable development.

Since 1990, the UK has made remarkable achievements in coping with climate change, and has reduced the emission of greenhouse gases by 20 percent, surpassing the objective set by the Kyoto Protocol. From the perspective of policy and regulation, the UK has become a world leader in this respect.

In 2007, the UK issued the world's first Climate Change Act, which came into force in 2008, making the UK the first country to possess a climate change law.

This April, the UK became the first country in the world to cut its carbon budget with legislation. The country clearly stated that between 2008 and 2022, a total of three "carbon budgets" running in five-year cycles would be set for emission reduction. Hefty goals for carbon reduction have been set: emissions have to be cut by 34 percent by 2020, and 80 percent by 2050.

On July 15, the British government announced the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan. A package of other articles was also announced on the same day by the departments responsible for Energy, Commerce and Transportation respectively, including a Renewable Energy Strategy, Low Carbon Industry Strategy and Low Carbon Transport Strategy.

Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said "Our transition plan is a road map to 2020 and beyond."

By People's Daily Online