Archived press release

Government failing to tackle climate change

27 April 2004

The Government must take urgent action if it is to meet its targets for combating climate change, Friends of the Earth warned today as the Government published its first Annual Report on the Energy White Paper [1]. Tony Blair [2] is expected to make a speech on climate change tomorrow, (Tuesday) at the launch of the Climate Group [3].

Cutting carbon dioxide emissions was one of the main targets of the Energy White Paper (published in Feb 2003). Today's report - Creating a Low Carbon Economy - sets the Government a target of a 60 % cut in carbon dioxide levels by 2050 (based on 1990 levels), extending its current commitment of a 20 % cut by 2010.

But in February this year the Government revealed that carbon dioxide levels had jumped by 1.5 % over the previous year. This is largely as a result of a rise in the demand for energy, and an increase in coal burning. The Department of Trade and Industry has recently predicted that carbon dioxide levels will only fall by between 14-16 % by 2010. Carbon dioxide levels are currently only 7.5 % below 1990 levels. When Labour came to power they were 7.3 % below, a 0.2 % reduction in six years.

Friends of the Earth's Director Tony Juniper said:

"Despite all the positive announcements, the Government is still not doing enough to combat climate change. Carbon dioxide emissions have risen this year, and unless the Government takes urgent action across all sectors of Government, it will fail to meet its carbon dioxide reduction targets. It is essential we achieve our national targets, not least because of the desperate need for credible international leadership. Words are one thing, meaningful reductions in pollution quite another."

Transport

Transport emissions remain 4.5% above 1990 levels. But 2003 saw a 0.5% reduction in emissions from transport compared to 2002 - despite the fact that motoring costs have fallen by 4.8% since Labour came to office (whilst rail costs have gone up 3% and bus travel by 8.2%). This decrease is believed to be as a result of increasing vehicle efficiency due to the European voluntary agreement with car Manufacturers.

Aviation is a growing source of carbon dioxide emissions. Aviation fuel consumption increased by 2% between 2002 and 2003, and accounts for 5% of transport emissions. The Government has also given the go-ahead to a massive expansion in air travel. Last month the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee warned: "If aviation emissions increase on the scale predicted by the DfT, the UK's 60% carbon emission reduction target which the Government set last year will become meaningless and unachievable. The most we could hope to attain would be about 35%."

Energy Efficiency

Government policies on energy efficiency have failed to constrain demand and energy use is rising by between 1.5% and 2% per annum.

By expressing targets in terms of fixed amounts of carbon dioxide, rather than a percentage reduction in demand, the Government's energy efficiency programme will never be able to guarantee a reduction in emissions, as savings from increased efficiency are undermined by rising demand across all sectors. In this respect targets are needed in relation to a reduction in the total energy used, as well as for emissions led targets.

Renewable electricity

Government has extended its 10% renewable electricity target by 2010 to 15% by 2015 and introduced more supportive draft planning guidance. This is welcome. The percentage of electricity supplied by renewables increased by 0.3% between 2002 and 2003 taking us to 2.9% of electricity supply in total.

Combined Heat and Power

The Government has a target of achieving 10GW of installed capacity by 2010. Currently we only have 4.9 MtC - Labour failed to meet the 5GW target by 2000 set by the Conservatives.

Again the last 12 months have been embarrassing. No new plants have been commissioned and between 2002 and 2003 capacity has actually reduced by 11MW.

Emissions Trading

An inter-deparmental spat between DEFRA and DTI is raging over how the UK will implement the EU emissions Trading Directive which will place emissions limits on industry. The Government must stand up to industry lobbying and ensure that it is not watered down

Conclusion

The first year of implementation of the Energy White Paper has been marred by embarrassing results across virtually all sectors. The Government's announcement's today contain virtually nothing new and demonstrate that it is not yet facing up to the scale of the problem it faces. The Government must massively increase its efforts to get back on track to achieving its 20% carbon reduction target by 2010.

What the Government must do

The Government must:

• use the full extent of the EU Emissions Trading scheme to bring down industry emissions where the least cost and most certain emission reductions can be achieved,

• fully internalise the environmental cost of aviation which currently benefits from subsidies, tax breaks and tax exemptions

• take effective action to curb road traffic

• introduce new policies in support of CHP,

• introduce reduction targets for total demand for energy and introduce effective measures to deliver them.

Notes

1. www.dti.gov.uk/energy/whitepaper/index.shtml

2. The Climate Group seeks to mobilize leading greenhouse gas reducers internationally into a single force for change.

3. This February, Tony Blair told MPs that he thought climate change was the biggest long term threat the planet faces: "Looking very long term…, yes, I think it is the key issue that faces us."

www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmselect/ ¬
cmliaisn/uc310-i/uc31002.htm

See question 87.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust