Government admits struggling on greenhouse emissions goal
The Government had today admitted that it is struggling to meet its targets on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The UK has pledged to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010, but in an announcement made during the publication of the consultation exercise on changes to Labour’s climate change programme, the Government admitted that target might not be met.
It stresses though that the UK is “well on course” to meet its obligations under the Kyoto protocol of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012.
And, it claims that emissions of the six main gases have fallen by 14 per cent since 1990, and is still projecting a 21 per cent fall by 2010.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Question Time in the Commons this lunchtime, Tony Blair rejected charges that this indicated the Government’s environment policy was failing.
He stressed that the UK was fulfilling all of its international obligations and would be one of the few countries to meet its Kyoto targets.
Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), said: “It is clear that we are on track to go beyond our Kyoto target, as emissions of the key greenhouse gases have fallen significantly.
“However, we will not, on the basis of current policies alone, achieve our ambitious 2010 domestic goal of a 20 per cent cut in carbon dioxide emissions.”
Saying that the Government wants “to do more” she called for all stakeholders – particularly in the business communities – to engage with the review. A revised programme is expected to be published in 2005.
Key areas to be addressed in the consultation include the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, improvements in energy efficiency, an increase in the production of biomas and a push on more environmentally friendly methods of travel.
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling, said: “Good transport is central to a prosperous economy, facilitating better access and greater mobility. But it is essential that we balance the increasing demand for travel with the need to reduce the environmental impacts of our travel choices.
“We have massively increased our spending on public transport, especially rail. Cars are getting more fuel-efficient every year and we have increased the rate of progress by introducing policies to reward people who choose the cleanest, most fuel-efficient models. We’re working on ways of tackling aviation’s contribution to climate change by actively pursuing the inclusion of aviation in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.”
Earlier this morning, the environmental pressure group Friends of the Earth claims UK emissions of carbon dioxide stand at 7.5 per cent below 1990 levels, the same as when Labour came to office in 1997.
FoE wants to see new ideas to encourage energy generators to invest more in new technologies.
It also wants to see tougher financial penalties for vehicles that use a lot of oil, extra duty on road fuels and taxes on aviation.
Tony Juniper, director of the pressure group, said time was running out. “If the climate change programme fails to make significant cuts in UK greenhouse gas emissions, the prime minister’s ability to persuade other countries to take the issue seriously will be totally undermined,” he warned.
Tony Blair has said he wants to use the presidencies of the EU and G8 next year to inspire the world to support Africa, with 2005 a “year of decision for Africa and for us”.
“If we can help Africa to stop progress being undone by disease and conflict, Africa’s people will ensure that Africa grows. But in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in Africa by 2015, progress needs to be much faster”, he has said.
