Archived press release

Pm speaks out on climate change

6 July 2004

Tony Blair's warning to the House of Commons Liaison Committee today that "Climate change is the biggest problem facing the world" was welcomed by Friends of the Earth. But the environmental campaign group warned that Government ministers' policies are actually making the situation worse [1]. Carbon dioxide levels have not fallen since Tony Blair came to power in 1997, despite Government promises to make significant cuts in greenhouse gas pollution.

Government policies which will increase climate change emissions include:

• Weak targets on emissions from industry (including the power sector). Under the EU Emission Trading Scheme the UK is proposing to allow industry to increase its emissions from current levels.

• Increased spending on roads, including reported widening of the M6 motorway. Research has repeatedly shown that extra road capacity will lead to rises in traffic levels. Increases in traffic are outstripping improvements in car efficiency, causing more CO2 emissions from transport.

• Giving the green light to more airport runways. It is estimated that Government agreement to allow a huge increase in air travel will result in a 250 per cent increase in emissions from this sector by 2030.

Friends of the Earth has repeatedly welcomed Tony Blair's efforts on the international stage on climate change, but is concerned that without decisive action at home his words will be increasingly ignored by foreign governments. The government has promised a 20 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide by 2010 (based on 1990 levels).

Friends of the Earth's Campaigns Director Mike Childs said:

"The Prime Minister may be genuinely concerned about climate change, but unless his Government starts delivering policies that will tackle the problem, people will doubt his sincerity. Allowing industry to increase emissions, building more roads and allowing a massive expansion in air travel and are not the way forward. Unless Tony Blair and his ministers put the long-term future of the planet ahead of short-termism the situation will only get worse, and seriously undermine our ability to persuade other world leaders to take action on climate change.

Friends of the Earth has also warned that reverting to nuclear power would be a huge mistake. Nuclear power is not only extremely expensive it also poses a unique security threat and leaves a radioactive waste nightmare for future generations.

1. See www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/indicators/headline/data/ ¬
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust