The United Kingdom's Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) released a comprehensive draft plan for battling carbon emissions yesterday, in an effort to meet pre-existing environmental commitments and set deadlines for action.

The plan describes actions and investments over the coming years to reach its emissions-cutting goal of 34 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. Until now, 82 of the 187 stated efforts have already launched, with 69 more to be implemented by the end of the year.

The setting for the plan is timely. The coalition government headed by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties made a point to emphasize carbon cuts after its election last May, even in the face of a crippling budget deficit. The organizing committee for the 2012 Olympics, to be held next summer in London, has also vowed to make the games the most sustainable in modern times.

The previous Labour government passed a Low Carbon Transition Plan in 2009, which suggested cuts by sector. This plan, said DECC, is more solid in its vision and deadlines.

"We are holding very much account to this and updating it on an annual basis," said a spokesperson for DECC.

Although the department published the report, it identifies five other instrumental government agencies to successfully implement carbon-cutting programs -- the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills; the Department for Communities and Local Government; the Department for Transportation; and the Treasury.

Currently in draft form, the plan will undergo a public comment period, with a final version slated for October.

The plan was released on the same day as the European Union's "road map," proposing greenhouse gas emissions cuts of 25 percent across Europe. The road map did not motivate the release date for the U.K. plan, said a spokesperson for DECC.

Passing on energy benefits

One pre-existing commitment included in the plan is last year's Green Deal, a provision of the proposed energy bill that would allow households to invest in home efficiency measures at no upfront cost. One of the biggest barriers to making homes more efficient is the quick residential turnover in British homes, explained DECC's spokesperson.

"They think, 'Someone is going to move in and enjoy it, and we've paid for it,'" said the spokesperson. Under the Green Deal, the cost of insulation or other retrofits would be passed onto the next residents, with the assurance of a "Golden Rule": No one will pay more than is saved in energy costs.

The plan states that DECC will work with potential providers to formulate early offers to the Green Deal by this June and develop an accreditation process by September. Overall, the aim is to move to zero-carbon homes by 2016 and zero-carbon non-domestic buildings by 2019.

The Green Deal is currently undergoing review in the U.K. Parliament's House of Lords committee. Once passed, it will move on to the House of Commons for a vote.

Two other ambitions join the deal in priorities for cutting carbon. The reform of the electricity market is needed to facilitate feed-in tariffs; support the price of carbon to encourage shifts to alternative fuels; and institute capacity payments to encourage an overall reduction in electricity demand. The plan also calls for the implementation of a Green Investment Bank to finance infrastructure projects.

DECC Secretary Chris Huhne released a statement on the European Union's road map, saying, "Europe's current 20 percent target for 2020 isn't enough or cost-effective, and shows that Europe's already got the policies and the tools to cut emissions by 25 percent at home. This makes the case for going to 30 percent stronger and more urgent."

Despite recent questions over the stability of the European Union's carbon emissions trading scheme, the plan holds tight to cap and trade, calling it "the most substantial single measure driving decarbonisation in the power sector."