A plan to cut carbon emissions by rationing an individual’s carbon use is being considered by ministers. Environment secretary David Milliband said in a speech to the Audit Office on 19 July that he is looking at the idea of a personal carbon allowance for all individuals to persuade them to adopt a greener lifestyle.

The move marks the first steps towards a state-enforced limits on carbon use and will extend the principle of carbon trading already in place for heavy polluters.

If it is adopted, the scheme could force consumers to carry a swipe card that records their annual personal carbon allocation. Points will be knocked off this allocation every time an individual buys petrol or flights. In return, green consumers would be able to sell unused carbon emissions to a central bank.

The scheme would still allow high energy users, such as car drivers who had used their allowance, to buy petrol but they would be forced buy extra carbon points from the bank to cover their extra carbon emissions. The number of carbon points available would be reduced each year.

The scheme was initially promoted by Colin Challen, Labour chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on climate change. Challen’s 2004 private members bill: Domestic Tradeable Quotas (Carbon Emissions) Bill never made it through parliament as he explained in his interview in BSJ 03/06. With the environment secretary’s backing it is likely that a pilot scheme will be set up soon.

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