Energy Secretary, Chris Huhne, has pledged that the UK will speed up green measures in an effort to halve its carbon emissions by 2025 compared to 1990 levels. This will see the UK putting in place the most ambitious targets on greenhouse gases of any developed country.
The Climate Change Act 2008 sets a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the UK by at least 80% on 1990 levels by 2050, and also requires the Government to set "carbon budgets". The pollution limits in the latest (fourth) carbon budget, run from 2023 to 2027, and will put the UK on target for 60% cuts by 2030.
Analysts claim the UK will have to generate 97% of electricity from low carbon sources such as nuclear or wind, insulate 3.5 million homes and ensure 60% of new cars run on electricity by 2030 to meet the target. It may also have to utilise green taxes to force industry and business to cut carbon. The policies necessary to meet the new carbon targets will be set out in October.
Connie Hedegaard, the European Union's climate change chief, hailed the outcome as an example that showed countries could pursue economic growth while cutting emissions. She said, "This is a recognition that to be very ambitious on public spending does not mean you can't be ambitious on climate change targets." David Kennedy, chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change, the Government advisory body that proposed the target, said, "This is going to deliver higher economic growth for the UK. It could well give us lower electricity prices in the future than our competitors."
However, some businesses have reacted angrily to the news, arguing that going further than other countries in cutting carbon will damage the competitiveness of UK Industry. Terry Scuoler, chief executive of EEF, which represents manufacturing, warned the businesses will go abroad where rules are not so tough on carbon emissions. Mr Scuoler said, "On its own this is a bad decision for manufacturing so the Government must move quickly to address the competitiveness concerns faced across manufacturing, as well as energy-intensive industries."
Mr Huhne has promised a support package for industry to help them move to renewable or low energy power.
