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CLIMATE THREAT TO WATER SUPPLY: LEAKED GOVT PLAN
15 October 1996
Whilst the report recommends a wide range of actions to reduce the risk of future water shortages, there are no new targets or timetables. The document also calls for a review to establish "whether new resources may be needed over the next 25 years", but the environmental consequences of further water abstraction is not mentioned.
Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to extend the scope of its investigations to examine the financial impact of potential water shortages and the other environmental costs of global climate change so that the benefits of tougher targets for climate-changing gas emissions reductions are made clearer. If the full costs of climate change are accounted for, then alternative green energy technologies will prove an even more economically attractive source of energy.
Friends of the Earth welcomes Labour commitments in response to the report to set mandatory leakage targets, require water companies to offer free advice and leakage repair services to customers, to refuse new abstraction until companies can demonstrate that there is no alternative and to promote the efficient use of water in the home and compensation for interruption in normal supplies.
Tony Juniper, Deputy Campaigns Director at Friends of the Earth, said:
"The financial burden that will be passed to water consumers is just one of the hidden costs of global climate change. Instead of sucking the countryside dry,the water companies should lobby for decisive action to combat global climate change and urge for tougher regulation to conserve supplies".
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Sep 2008
