Leaked documents expose Labour's broken promises on climate change
23 October 2007
Leaked documents suggest that Ministers are planning a U-turn on Britain's pledges to combat climate change that "effectively abolishes" its targets to rapidly expand the use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. (1)
John Hutton, the Secretary of State for business, is expected to tell the Prime Minster that Britain should work with Poland and other governments sceptical about climate change to "help persuade" German chancellor Angela Merkel and others to set lower renewable targets, before binding commitments are framed in December.
He will say that the current target of 20 per cent of all European energy to come from renewable sources by 2020 is, expensive and faces "severe practical difficulties".
Green Party Principal Speaker Caroline Lucas,who is also the Green Euro - MP for the South East, said:
"The Government has failed to show any real commitment on targets set by the EU, so the contents of these leaked papers sadly come as no surprise.
"Current government policies in support of renewable energy are confusing, piecemeal and inadequate, and now seem to be in complete disarray.
"This consistent failure of political will to do what is necessary to substantially increase investment in renewable energy is shameful, particularly at a time when scientists are reporting that carbon emissions are accumulating in the atmosphere far more quickly than predicted.
"Moreover, to object to the renewable target on the grounds that it could undermine the EU's carbon trading scheme is an extraordinary argument, which suggests that the Government has forgotten that the primary aim of emissions trading is to reduce emissions.
"The UK has a real opportunity to lead the way in the development of alternative sources of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, yet the Government prefers to hold on to its ambition of introducing more dirty, dangerous and expensive nuclear power instead.
"Radical reforms are urgently needed to the way renewable energy technology development is supported in the UK. Government grants are derisory and the private sector currently invests just £250m a year in renewable energy technology when to significantly boost this industry we need to see more like £2.5 billion going into new projects.
"Capital grant schemes, such as the Low Carbon Buildings Programme, which has been massively oversubscribed despite being under-promoted, need a proper level of funding. The UK's record is derisory compared to much more rapid investment in other countries including Germany, Denmark and Japan."
The Green Party believes that seriously tackling climate change requires a radical policy shift at the heart of government. We would:
- Replace the Renewables Obligation by phasing in "Feed in Tariffs" - a simple framework of guaranteed prices for exported renewable energy. 'Feed-in tariffs' have been a runaway success in Germany and other countries, stimulating both large- and small-scale projects and kick-starting a profitable industry that supports many thousands of jobs.- Apply a resources tax to fossil fuels to expand funding for energy conservation and renewables- Expand the capital grants scheme for renewables- Introduce a low-cost loan scheme for individuals and businesses- Create a more favourable planning policy framework for renewable energy
In this way we would massively invest in renewables, creating thousands of jobs and allowing us to switch from carbon-based to a renewables economy.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
(1) The Guardian newspaper article about the leaked documents can be read at:
