Dismay over Climate Change Review

Environmental groups have condemned the Government over its Climate Change Review, and the admission that the UK will not meet its emissions target for 2010. The target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by the end of the decade has been a key part of the Government’s environmental agenda over recent years, but this week’s forecast places the 2010 level between 15% and 18%.

The much anticipated review, which had been earlier described as being Labour’s green credibility test by Friends of the Earth, covered issues including a stricter emissions cap for industry, measures to increase the uptake of biofuels in petrol, ways to boost household energy efficiency and tighter building regulations, among others.

Higher than anticipated levels of economic growth and global energy price rises have been blamed for missing the 2010 target. In response to the shortfall the Review noted that progress will be assessed more regularly and frequently, with annual emission reports.

“This review is pitiful,” said Greenpeace’s Senior Climate Campaigner Charlie Kronick. “Co2 emissions are rising, the target’s getting further away and the Government has introduced no new measures to combat this. Failure of government departments to agree a clear plan of action has led to a review that is nothing more than an abdication of responsibility.”

"We had hoped this climate review would inject an additional boost to offshore wind to ensure it joined onshore as a major provider of new power and carbon savings to hit our 2010 targets,” commented Marcus Rand from the BWEA. “The Government's failure to act in this review must be addressed in the forthcoming Energy Review. Without a vibrant offshore wind sector it is hard to see how the Government's 2010 climate targets can be met and how our 20% renewable aspirations by 2020 can become a working reality."