Press release
Government departments publish climate change plans
31 March 2010
Commenting on the publication today (Wednesday 31 March 2010) of Government department plans for tackling climate change, Friends of the Earth's Executive
Director Andy Atkins said:
"Getting every major Government department to set out how it will tackle climate change is a significant development - slashing carbon dioxide emissions must be at the heart of policy making.
"But current UK carbon targets are inadequate - the Government must base its action on the latest climate science and agree to cut emissions by at least 42 per cent by 2020, and achieve it without offsetting.
"Ministers must also take steps to ensure councils play their part too - each one should have a local carbon budget limiting the climate-changing pollution their area can emit to ensure that they play their part in meeting UK climate targets."
ENDS
Notes
1. Friends of the Earth's reaction to some of the individual department climate plans is available from the press office.
2. Last October the Government's official climate advisor, the Committee on Climate Change, reported that a step change is required in the pace of UK emissions reduction to meet carbon budgets, and that in some areas, new policy approaches will be required to deliver the Government's Low Carbon Transition Plan ": http://www.theccc.org.uk/news/press-releases/477-uk-needs-to-achieve-a-step-change-in-its-pace-of-emissions-reduction-to-meet-carbon-budgets-12-october-2009
3. Last week new Government figures revealed that the recession had led to a large fall in UK emissions. Friends of the Earth called for urgent Government action to ensure that they don't rise again as the economy grows: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/uk_emissions_25032010.html
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
Last modified: Mar 2010
