The United Kingdom has begun measuring the greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chains, teaming up with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an organization that works with the private sector. Collaborating organizations include the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Dept. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Gloucestershire County Council and the London Borough of Islington. The information will help participants formulate climate change strategies and help government suppliers focus on areas for improving energy efficiencies.

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is developing the Electricity Vending System (EVS), a pilot project for households to manage their energy use. Design & development is complete. In November 2008 EMA will conduct trial runs for a 6-month period involving 1,000 volunteer households. The EVS will enable consumers to choose a competitive electricity package; know the cost of the electricity being consumed when they switch on appliances and manage costs. EMA expects to complete the pilot project by the second half of 2009 and will then evaluate the feasibility of implementing the EVS.

The law establishes a nationwide GHG emissions credit trading program. It is being introduced gradually with the giant forestry sector accounting for its emissions this year, energy joining in 2010, transport in 2011, and agriculture in 2013. New Zealand is one of the world's biggest exporters of dairy products, meat and kiwi fruit and a prime tourist destination. Prime Minister Clark noted that the country risked being boycotted as a "dirty producer" by world consumers and tourists who are increasingly environmentally conscious. Environmentalists said the law did not go far enough and was unfair to the poor. To support it, The Green Party negotiated a $670M package of subsidies. The Conservative party vowed to change the law if they win national elections next year.

The EU voted overwhelmingly in favor of binding national renewable energy targets to reach its target of producing 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. The Parliament backed the compromise of Green member Claude Turmes and also voted to allow member states to cooperate to achieve their national targets by, for example, operating joint projects. Oliver Schäfer, policy director of the European Renewable Energy Council, particularly welcomed the broad agreement reached on a flexibility mechanism to enable member states to reach their renewable energy targets in the most cost effective way. He said: "The efforts made by all political groups to find compromises on the most important issues have lead to significantly positive results on most issues. This is crucial to ensure investors' security. Governments - with this proposal - will also be able to maintain control over their targets and policies to achieve them."