Backbench Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs defied their parties today [Tuesday 4 June 2013] to support the inclusion of a clean power target in the Energy Bill.  Although the vote was narrowly defeated, the amendments were backed by the Labour Party, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, and the Green Party. The vote was 267 in favour of the amendment – 290 against.

Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

“The Liberal Democrat leadership’s green credibility has been left in tatters after siding with the Conservatives to back a headlong dash for gas – this would send fuel bills rocketing and jobs overseas, and punch a gaping hole in our climate targets.

“With significant numbers of MPs defying the party whip to join the Opposition by voting for clean power, this issue will not go away. 

“The fight now moves to the Lords, where peers from all parties, cross benchers and bishops are expected to back power sector decarbonisation, because they know it’s essential for safeguarding our economy and environment.”

ENDS 

Notes to editor 

1. The vote on the decarbonisation amendments took place today (Tuesday 4 June) at 4pm. Tim Yeo MP will be available for telephone interviews between 4.15-6pm for reaction. Contact [email protected] or 07917488141.

The Bill is the key piece of policy that will make a difference to climate change in this parliament, and will determine the way we power the UK for the next generation. Prior to the vote, almost 300 MPs from all parties showed their support for the target.

2. The so called ‘green jobs amendment’ was tabled in February 2013 by Chair of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee Tim Yeo MP and by Barry Gardiner MP. This came shortly after the Government tabled its own amendment to the Bill, which Friends of the Earth said was too vague and delays a decision until 2016 at the earliest, if at all.

3. Over 200 major businesses, trade unions, charities and faith groups back the inclusion of a clean power target in the Energy Bill to clean up our electricity by 2030. They say it would kick-start investment in UK renewable energy, which in turn would help tackle climate change, create jobs and provide the framework needed for affordable energy for the future.

4. The Government’s independent climate adviser, the Committee on Climate Change, says that as well as boosting the economy, a clean power target is the cheapest way to deliver our climate change goals. It also says that a dash for gas will cost bill payers £25 -100 billion more in 2020-2030 than if the UK develops low-carbon energy. That’s at least £600 extra on annual fuel bills.

5. New research by Friends of the Earth estimates that an extra 550 million tonnes of carbon dioxide will be emitted into the atmosphere if the Government fails to set a clean power target now and instead embarks on a new dash for gas; equivalent to the emissions of every car and van in Britain for 8 years, or every UK international flight for 16 years.

6. Renewable UK estimates that 29,000 potential jobs in the renewables industry are hanging in the balance, heavily dependent upon policy certainty – which a 2030 decarbonisation target will help to provide.

7. In March 2013, six leading investors including Alstom, Mitsubishi, Areva, Doosan, Gamesa, and Vestas warned the Government that failing to set a clean power target this year risks delaying developments and losing jobs abroad (£).

8. According to the CBI, green business already accounts for almost one million jobs. The Renewable Energy Association estimates that that there could be as many as 400,000 jobs nationwide by 2020, if the UK stays on course for tackling climate change.

9. Friends of the Earth has a range of case studies available of people working in the renewable energy sector who support a clean power target and are happy to be interviewed by media. For contact details please contact Friends of the Earth’s press office – 020 7566 1649.

10. Liberal Democrat conference in September 2012 overwhelmingly passed a resolution, proposed by Danny Alexander MP, calling for a decarbonisation target.

11. Ed Miliband committed the Labour Party to introducing a decarbonisation target in line with the Committee on Climate Change advice if it wins the next general election.  

12. For more information on the need for a decarbonisation target see a joint briefing by Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace.

13. Friends of the Earth’s Clean British Energy campaign, backed by TV Dragons’ Den’s Deborah Meaden, is urging the Government to act now to fix our broken energy system by setting a target in the Energy Bill to clean up our electricity by 2030. Slashing energy waste and developing renewable power from our wind, sun and waves will tackle climate change, create thousands of UK jobs, and make our future fuel bills more predictable. To find out more and back the campaign visit: www.cleanbritishenergy.co.uk.