LONDON, UK, October 9, 2008.

The UK Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has advised that the UK needs to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 80% in 2050, and that this is achievable at a cost of 1-2% of GDP in 2050.

The CCC, which is an independent body responsible for advising on the UK’s carbon budgets up to 2050 and reporting on progress, says the cut is possible through:
- Energy efficiency improvement in buildings and industry.
- Decarbonisation of the power sector through renewable technologies.
- Transport sector decarbonisation through fuel efficiency and use of first generation biofuels, and the introduction of new technologies such as electric cars, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen vehicles, and second generation biofuels.
- Heat sector decarbonisation through increased use of biomass in boilers, combined heat and power (CHP), ground source heat pumps and modern electric storage heating.
- Decarbonisation of industry through carbon capture and storage (CCS) in cement, iron and steel.

The Renewable Energy Association (REA) says it welcomes the CCC report, but also expressed concern about translating these ambitious targets into action.

REA Director Philip Wolfe says: “The vital test of UK Commitment to combating climate change is what government does with renewables and energy efficiency right now. We have less than 10 years left to start bringing emissions down if we are to avoid dangerous climate change. We therefore look to the new Department for Energy and Climate Change to back the Renewable Energy Tariff measure in the Energy Bill over the next few weeks. If this is done it will empower everyday people and businesses all over the UK to invest in renewable and significantly contribute to the CO2 cut.”

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) also welcomes the climate target: “This new target underlines the urgency of action to deliver clean, sustainable energy now if we are to keep global temperatures within acceptable limits. Only renewable energy, and wind power in particular, can get us swiftly onto the path of decarbonising our electricity supply,” says BWEA Chief Executive Maria McCaffery.

“We must redouble our effort to overcome the remaining barriers to renewable energy or we risk overshooting the necessary emission trajectory right from the start,” she adds.

The CCC’s full report on the 2050 target and the level of the UK’s first there carbon budgets will be published on 1 December 2008.