UK failing on EU climate laws - report

A new report published this week has claimed that UK is failing to fully implement European Union regulations designed to combat climate change, despite the issue being ‘prioritised’ by leading ministers throughout 2005. Entitled ‘So Much Hot Air’, the Association for the Conservation of Energy published report, commissioned by the Green Party group at the European Parliament, highlights a number of failures in both implementing directives and promoting relevant targets.

“Tony Blair has repeatedly told us that tackling climate change is a priority for the UK’s presidency of the EU,” commented Dr. Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for South-East England and one of the report’s commissioners. “But this report makes clear that he hasn’t even fully implemented the measures already adopted. It seems all his promises and fine words are little more than so much hot air.”

The report urges the government to fully implement the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, promote new targets under the Energy Services Directive and promote the EU Energy Green Paper to improve energy conservation, among other recommendations.

“The UK’s CO2 emissions are rising – and this report outlines some of the steps the Government can take immediately to stem the tide and cut CO2 emissions in line with our commitments under international law and its own targets,” added London Green MEP and joint report commissioner Jean Lambert.