Press release

Davey should stand down if he fails on decarbonised power goal

23 September 2012

Reacting to Ed Davey's speech at the Liberal Democrats' annual conference today (Sunday 23 September 2012), Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

"Delivering a carbon-free electricity system is the acid test of Ed Davey's term in office - if the Energy Bill doesn't include a legally-binding target to decarbonise the power sector by 2030, he should resign.

"Investing in the UK's huge clean energy potential is essential to power a strong, modern economy and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

"Warm words are not enough - Davey must stand up to the anti-green Chancellor and a reckless dash for gas that will scupper our climate change targets and lock the economy into spiralling fuel bills for generations to come."

ENDS

Notes to editors

*** A Joint NGO statement on the Energy Bill 2012 ***

1. On Saturday (22 September) it was revealed that Labour leader Ed Miliband was calling for the forthcoming Energy Bill to contain a clear commitment to decarbonise the electricity system by 2030 - as called for by the Government's official climate advisor, the Committee on Climate Change.

 2. A Friends of the Earth/Greenpeace poll published today (Sunday 23 September) found that the party could win back lost voters if it stands up for the environment.The Populus poll shows 55% of people who voted Liberal Democrat in 2010 would be more likely to vote for the party again if it took action to achieve carbon-free power in the UK by 2030.

3.  The Committee on Climate Change wrote to the Ed Davey on 13th September 2012 to 'strongly urge' him to include a 2030 decarbonisation target in the forthcoming Energy Bill.

4. The Chancellor, George Osborne, has put pressure on Ed Davey to give a "clear, strong signal that we regard unabated gas as able to play a core part of our electricity generation to at least 2030 - not just providing back-up for wind plant or peaking capacity".

5. DECC presser (17 March 2012): Davey sets out measures to provide certainty to gas investors.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust