Archived press release

Climate Change Committee publishes advice

1 December 2008

Reacting to today's advice by the Climate Change Committee on the size of cuts needed in UK greenhouse gas emissions over the next few years to meet mandatory targets for tackling climate change, Friends of the Earth's executive director, Andy Atkins, said:

"We're delighted that the Committee recognises that UK greenhouse gas emissions must be slashed by 42 per cent by 2020 if we are to play our part in avoiding catastrophic global warming - but this must not be conditional on reaching an international deal.

"The Committee clearly acknowledges the major threats that aviation and coal pose to our climate change targets - but it has fudged the question of what the Government must do."

"Ministers must scrap plans to allow UK airports to expand and not allow any coal-fired power stations to be built without carbon capture and storage."

"The Government must now get on with the urgent task of making the UK a low- carbon economy."

"Lord Turner's strong backing for urgent investment in green energy and cutting energy waste hits the nail on the head."

"This will not only cut emissions - it will create exciting business opportunities, new jobs and a safe, clean and prosperous future for us all."

Notes:

1. Under the Climate Change Act, which was passed on 26 November 2008, the UK is legally obliged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 - with a series of five-year 'greenhouse gas budgets' to ensure that the target is kept on track. The UK is the first country in the world to introduce a legally-binding framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The campaign for the Climate Change Act was led by Friends of the Earth through The Big Ask campaign, which was launched in 2005 and supported by Radiohead front man Thom Yorke and more than 200,000 people. A short history of The Big Ask campaign can be found at:
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/news/big_ask_history_15798.html

2. A detailed Friends of the Earth briefing on the Climate Change Committee is available at:
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/ccc_advice.pdf

3. Monday 1 December 2008 is also the start of important UN climate change negotiations in Poland, which Friends of the Earth campaigners are attending. A briefing is available at:
http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/media_briefing/un_climate_talks_poland.pdf

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust