3 POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT


3.1 Introduction 1.


This chapter presents the local, national and international planning policy context with regard to the development of offshore windfarms and their associated offshore and onshore infrastructure. The chapter starts by introducing the European Union (EU) directives and globally agreed protocols which have shaped the policy framework within which the proposed East Anglia THREE project is being developed. The chapter then describes the key legislation and relevant policy at national, regional and local level. Throughout all these policy levels, three main themes are covered: reducing emissions, renewable energy and managing the environment.


3.2 International Context


3.2.1 Reducing emissions 2.


The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its parties to setting internationally binding emission reduction targets. The protocol was agreed in 1997 and was ratified by the UK in 2002.


3.


Initially obligatory targets required committed parties to take measures aimed at reducing global emissions of greenhouse gas, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), by an average of 5% against 1990 levels over the five-year period 2008 to 2012.


4.


A regular series of international meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have taken place since 1997 resulting in the Copenhagen Accord (2009) and the Doha Amendment (2012). The Doha Amendment included a new commitment by parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 18% below 1990 levels in the eight-year period from 2013 to 2020.


5.


Under this second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol the EU has committed to reduce emissions by 20% on 1990 levels by 2020, but has the option to step up this reduction to 30% if the conditions are right. The UK Climate Change Act 2008 which is discussed further in section 3.3.1.2 has an interim 34% reduction target for 2020 which if achieved will allow the UK to meet and exceed its Kyoto agreement target.


3.2.2 Renewable energy 6.


In September 2001, the EU adopted its first Renewables Directive 2001/77/EC on the 'Promotion of Electricity Produced from Renewable Energy Sources in the Internal


Preliminary Environmental Information May 2014


East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm


Chapter 3 Policy and Legislative Context Page 1


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