Reacting to David Cameron’s pledge today to make the coalition the "greenest Government ever", Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

“We welcome Mr Cameron’s pledge that the new Government will be the greenest ever – we urgently need to build a new low carbon economy out of the rubble of the old.

“But the starting point must be a more ambitious target for tackling climate change.

“The coalition Government must agree to cut UK emissions by at least 42 per cent by 2020 without offsetting – this is the minimum that scientific experts say is needed for this country to play its fair part in preventing dangerous climate change.

“To deliver these cuts, we also need local carbon budgets to ensure that councils play their part in cutting emissions and a new law to cut greenhouse gases caused by the UK's dependence on imported feeds for meat and dairy.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Friends of the Earth is calling for the Government to adopt a range of green measures, including

·         Sufficient investment in switching to a low carbon economy to: achieve a reduction in UK greenhouse gas emission of 42 per cent by 2020 without offsetting; create jobs and boost the recovery; and eliminate fuel poverty.

·         A local carbon budget for every local authority: that caps CO2 in the local area in line with the scientific demands for emissions cuts and local circumstances; and enough money and technical support to enable councils to do their bit to tackle climate change.

·         A new law which will tackle the major greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation caused by the UK's dependence on imported feeds for livestock - and which will support better UK farming and domestic feed production.

·         An international agreement on cutting emissions where those responsible make the deepest cuts first, and developing countries are supported to grow in a low carbon way.