Green Party leader says recommendations for carbon reductions are not enough and also urges the Government to take lead in implementing higher level carbon budget
The leader of the Green Party, Dr Caroline Lucas MEP, welcomes the Committee's report but urges the Government to implement the carbon budget now rather waiting for a global deal.
The report entitled, Building a low carbon economy called for the Government to reduce carbon emissions by at least 34 per cent by 2020, and to 42 per cent once a global deal to reach emissions was reached.
Dr Lucas said: "Science dictates that carbon emissions should be reduced by at least 42 per cent. The Government should take real leadership and take unilateral action now rather than waiting for the global deal."
The leader added the plans for Heathrow expansion would immediately undermine the report. "Another runway would make it very difficult for the Government to adhere to the suggested carbon budgets."
The report also stated a variety of ways to implement the carbon budgets using existing technologies and putting in place a range of policies to move to a low-carbon economy.
Dr Lucas dismissed the report's plans to use nuclear energy saying it would be "a costly and unnecessary in order to meet the targets".