Archived press release

Will it add up? greens give details of Government's key climate change paper

23 October 1998

The paper should set out how the UK will meet its targets for cutting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.

Labour fought the General Election promising to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 20%over 1990 levels by 2010. This promise has been repeated on many occasions

. 16 October 1998, Environment Minister Michael Meacher: “The consultation will set out what each sector of society has to do ... to meet ... our domestic target of a 20% cut in CO2.”(BBC Radio 4 Today programme)
. 29 April 1998, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said there had been no change in Britain's commitment to cut carbon dioxide by 20% (PA News)
. 24 June 1997, Prime Minister Tony Blair said in the House of Commons that the 20% target is “not a conditional target” [i.e. does not depend on what other countries do]. (Hansard,column 688).

The UK's share of the international agreement made at the Kyoto climate summit last year requires a 12.5% cut in all greenhouse gas emissions by 2010.

Will Labour meet its promises?

FOE believes that the paper will set out only options for meeting greenhouse gases, a clear retreatfrom the promise to make an unconditional cut of 20%. This retreat has been forced on the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions because of opposition from the Department of Trade and Industry and the Treasury.

Key questions to ask include:

. Do the measures add up to a 20% cut in CO2 emissions by 2010?
Or are they simply a set of possible measures, with the 20% target only one choice amongst

many.

. Will ecotax reform be included?
A carbon/energy tax will achieve considerable reductions in emissions, through boosting efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

Lord Marshall is heading a Government Task Force looking at the possibility of a new carbon/energy tax. He is likely to recommend a tax, but FOE believes that Chancellor Gordon Brown may not introduce it in the Budget next March (he may simply announce further consultation based on Marshall's conclusions).

. Will the 20% target be achieved without “carbon trading”?
“Carbon trading” would allow the UK to buy “carbon credits” from countries producing less than their agreed CO2 limits. This would mean that the UK could meet its international obligations without full domestic reductions in CO2 emissions.

. Will there be a boost for renewable energy?
The paper should include measures to increase renewables to 10% of electricity supply by 2010, This could be done through increased research funding, an extension of the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation and an obligation on electricity suppliers to source a percentage of electricity from renewable sources every year.

. Will there be policies to stop rising energy demands across all sectors?
This could be done through tax relief on loans for home energy efficiency, tougher minimum standards for industry and appliances, compulsory energy rating on all housing, compulsory energy audits for all companies.

. Will there be policies to achieve a 10% cut in traffic levels by 2010?
Major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions can't be achieved without cuts in the level of road traffic. This could be done through implementation of the Road Traffic Reduction (National Targets) Act, cutting the roads programme and boosting public transport, tougher planning controls on out-of-town development, increased fuel efficiency standards and higher fuel duties.

. Will the paper set out the economic and employment benefits of meeting targets?
FOE has calculated that investing in measures to cut CO2 emissions by 20% could create over 230,000 new jobs. This paper should show that tackling climate change can boost the UK's economy and bring social and health benefits too.

The time for warm words is over. The Government Paper must have clear plans for action. It must stick to the 20% target (the keystone to its promise to be a “truly green Government”). Anything less should be regarded as at best a fudge.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust