Archived press release

EU renewable energy target: House of Lords calls for urgent action

23 October 2008

Responding to today's House of Lords report on the European Union's renewable energy plans, Friends of the Earth's climate campaigner Robin Webster said:

"The House of Lords has recognised the need for urgent Government action to meet our target for boosting renewable energy."

"Ministers must stop trying to wriggle out of their commitments and get on with the job of harnessing Britain's huge potential for green power."

"This will help cut emissions, create many thousands of jobs and secure a safe energy supply - leading Britain to a cleaner and more prosperous future."

Next week the Government will also publish details of its feed-in tariff amendment to the Energy Bill in the House of Lords.

Robin Webster said: "The Government must listen to the committee and introduce a comprehensive feed-in tariff that encourages farmers, communities and businesses to invest in renewable energy technologies - not just households."

"If the Government gets it right the UK could become a world leader in the development of small-scale green energy - creating new green collar jobs and a booming new industry."

Background

Once finalised the EU plans will ensure that 20 per cent of EU energy comes from renewable sources by 2020. Each member state will be given a different national target: the UK's proposed target is 15 per cent. However, Friends of the Earth and other organisations have become increasingly concerned that the UK is trying to wriggle out of its target by proposing amendments that would significantly weaken the EU proposals.

Today's report by the House of Lords European Union Committee concluded that the UK needs to commit to the 15 per cent as a political spur for the renewable energy target as a political spur for the development of the renewable energy industry in the UK but that 'quick and decisive action on all fronts, including encouraging large-scale generation, micro-generation and energy efficiency' is urgently needed. It also said that the EU and UK targets 'should be regarded as a stepping-stone, not as a goal itself', and that community scale feed in tariffs are needed.

Notes:

1. Friends of the Earth is a member of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, the UK's largest group of people dedicated to action on climate change.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust