Archived press release

CBI road map to a low carbon economy - the Government must do more

6 April 2009

Responding to a new report from the CBI today which sets out a road map to a low-carbon economy, as well as the results of a poll by the Renewable Energy Association that show the majority of green energy providers are facing financial difficulties, Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

"It's good to hear businesses pointing out that not enough is being done to cut UK greenhouse gas emissions by switching to low-carbon sources of power. The Government's insufficient support for renewable energy has lasted far too long."

"But even the CBI's road map to a low-carbon economy won't get us where we need to be - reducing UK emissions by 30 per cent by 2020 is nowhere near enough to avoid catastrophic climate change."

"The Government must send the right signal to industry by setting a carbon budget that ensures we cut UK emissions at home by at least 42 per cent by 2020, and providing real incentives to companies to invest in renewable energy."

"Ministers must put climate change at the heart of the Budget and lead the world on reaching a strong climate deal at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen later this year."

Commenting on what should be done to encourage companies to invest in developing renewable energy, Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

"Ministers must catch up with governments elsewhere and provide real incentives - such as tax breaks - to get companies investing in the clean, green, renewable energy projects needed now to avoid a climate catastrophe."

"The UK is the windiest county in Europe but a shortage of wind turbines and components is keeping prices high for wind farms both on and offshore."

"By developing the UK's manufacturing capacity and upgrading the National Grid, the Government could provide thousands of new jobs and business opportunities."

Notes:

1. A copy of the CBI road map to a low-carbon economy is available at: climatechange.cbi.org.uk/uploaded/Roadmap_SummaryDistance.pdf

2. Further information on the CBI road map and the REA's poll of green energy companies is available at: www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/apr/06/cbi-environment-climate-change

3. A report from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, commissioned by Friends of the Earth, recommends that the Government commits now to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 42 per cent by 2020 - and that the targets must be met purely through domestic reductions, without buying offsets from abroad. www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/tyndall_research_17032009.html

4. The carbon budgets are part of the Government's Climate Change Act - for which Friends of the Earth led the campaign. The Climate Change Act commits the Government to slashing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

5. Nuclear is unsafe, inefficient and expensive. It leaves a legacy of deadly radioactive waste that remains dangerous for tens of thousands of years - at a cost of up to £83 billion to UK tax payers. Replacing nuclear plants would only deliver around 4-5 per cent of UK energy consumption, and building new nuclear plants would undermine the UK's commitment to delivering at least 15 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.

Friends of the Earth firmly believes that the UK can meet its energy needs, maintain energy security and tackle climate change through a comprehensive programme of renewable energy, energy efficiency, combined heat and power and carbon capture and storage technology.

Developing green energy and reducing energy waste will reduce fuel bills and protect businesses and households from the yo-yoing costs of fossil fuels. Investing in a low-carbon future will also help lead the UK out of recession.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust