Inter-departmental Analysts Group (IAG)

The above report "Long-Term Reductions in Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the UK" represents the findings of the Inter-departmental Analysts Group (IAG). The IAG was set up to inform the government's response to the RCEP recommendation of a 60% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The report provides an economic analysis into long-term low carbon options available in the UK. It considers the scale of the emission reduction required taking into account potential future growth in energy demands and energy mix projected over the next fifty years and illustrates the level of uncertainty in projecting so far into the future using a scenario approach. The report also considers the options available to fill the estimated gap, their associated costs and the economic impact in relation to projected GDP growth to 2050. The findings of the IAG report have helped inform the Performance and Innovation Unit's review into the implications and challenges in moving into a low carbon economy.

The IAG also provided analytical support to development of the Energy White Paper 2003: Our Energy Future - Creating a Low  Carbon Economy and continued as a cross-departmental group - extended to include the Energy Saving Trust, the Carbon Trust, Environment Agency - providing cross-cutting analytical support to the now-defunct Sustainable Energy Policy Network (SEPN) in reviewing analytical requirements feeding into the workstreams; advising on potential gaps in such work plans; identifying cross-cutting requirements and drawing links between analytical work conducted in support of workstreams; and providing a measure of peer review.

The group has more recently been responsible for overseeing the analytical work underpinning the Climate Change Programme Review, the 2006 Energy Review and the 2007 Energy White Paper - meeting the energy challenge.

The IAG is joint chaired by Ulrike Hotopp, Director of Strategic Analysis, Energy Strategy & International Unit, BERR and Jim Penman of Defra. The secretary for the group is Stephen Green.

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