�Quick Guide:�Environment issues
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Kyoto protocol

Greenhouse gases

Renewables

Recycling

Housebuilding

Renewables

With shrinking North Sea gas and oil reserves and a drive for cleaner fuel, renewable energy could be the way of the future.

Biofuels, solar, wind and tidal power are used much less than other European countries, but are on the increase.

But critics say they alone are not sufficient to cut greenhouse gases.

They say the UK should use more nuclear power - which creates less carbon dioxide and more energy than fossil fuels, but is much more controversial.