Archived press release

Goodbye nuclear, hello wind

24 February 2003

Friends of the Earth today congratulated the Government for rejecting calls to build new nuclear power plants. It welcomed plans to "work towards" cutting climate changing emissions of carbon dioxide by 60 per cent by 2050, through a major expansion of renewable energy and increased energy efficiency. But Friends of the Earth also warned that these plans must be accompanied by clear timetables, targets and investment if they are to be achieved.

The Energy White Paper, unveiled today by Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt, omits a firm commitment for renewables to produce 20 per cent of our energy by 2020. The Treasury and No10 are both believed to have intervened to water down specific pledges in the White Paper. And there are no measures to reduce traffic growth or stop the runaway rise in aircraft emissions.

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to:

• Ensure that the fight against climate change is central to all Government departments and policies (including transport policy, the introduction of a tax on domestic aviation fuel, and a strategy for biofuels (eg bioethanol and biodiesel) including duty cuts).

• Back the Sustainable Energy Bill, which has been introduced by Brian White MP and will be debated in Parliament on 28 March.

• Introduce a tough cap and trade scheme for emissions of carbon dioxide from power stations (still the biggest source of CO2 in the UK and rising).

• Introduce an energy efficiency commitment for those supplying the commercial sector with power (as already exists for the domestic sector) and set demand reduction targets to measure the effectiveness of all energy efficiency policies.

• Introduce new planning guidance that introduces a qualified presumption in favour of renewables and ensures that renewables and energy efficiency technologies are included in all new developments.

• Make all suppliers of energy disclose the environmental consequences of their actions on customers bills eg amount of carbon dioxide produced per unit of electricity sold.

Friends of the Earth's Energy Campaigner Bryony Worthington, said:

"Today's White Paper is a crucial landmark in moving the UK towards a more sustainable, low carbon economy. It appears that at long last the Government accepts that the nuclear dream is over, and that a huge investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency is needed to secure our energy needs and combat climate change.

"It is disappointing that the Government has dropped a target for producing a fifth of our energy from renewables by 2020. It must now produce the bold policies, resources and commitment necessary to ensure that the vision of a genuinely sustainable, low carbon, energy policy can be realised."

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