11.10.11
EAC urges Government to commit to cutting emissions
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has warned the Government that a ‘schizophrenic’ attitude to climate change is undermining investment in low carbon industries.
The UK originally committed to cutting emissions in half by 2025, with David Cameron stating that he wanted this to be the ‘greenest Government ever’. However a new announcement suggests that this target will be reviewed in 2014.
Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said the review was necessary to ensure that the UK industry was not losing out by cutting carbon much faster than the rest of Europe. He stated: “It’s right that we review progress towards the EU emissions goal in 2014 so that we're not disadvantaging British industry, which would simply result in emissions being shipped overseas.
“Getting the rest of Europe to go further and faster in providing certainty to green investors is vital, which is why we're not letting up in pushing the EU to up its emissions reduction target to 30%.”
The EAC is concerned that the decision to review the target suggests that the Government is not serious about climate change.
Zac Goldsmith, a Conservative member of the EAC said: “It is absolutely crucial that policy-makers recognise that with the stroke of a pen, they can make a good investment bad. Unless they provide real long-term certainty, the transition to a low-carbon economy will be slower and bumpier than it needs to be.”
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