Press release

Government warned over green economy plans as UK emissions rise

31 March 2011

Commenting on provisional Government figures released today showing a 2.8 per cent rise in UK greenhouse emissions and a 3.8 per cent rise in carbon emissions, Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

"Our economy is as dangerously hooked on fossil fuels as it was twenty years ago - so emissions are bound to rise as the economy picks up.

"The Government has repeatedly promised to build a low-carbon economy to tackle climate change and insulate us all from yo-yoing fuel prices, but the Treasury refuses to lay the foundations or pay for the bricks.

"The UK is already sliding down the green energy investment league as companies give their verdict on a series of Government decisions that fail to support clean energy from our huge wind, wave and solar resource.

"If the Government is going to get serious on climate change it must accept the Climate Change Committee's advice in full and set tougher targets for cutting UK emissions.

"Three-quarters of the public want the government to prioritise investments into energy saving and renewable power - it's time to end the UK's dirty and dangerous addiction to old energy and invest in a brighter, cleaner future."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. DECC: 2010 provisional UK figures.

2. Over 20,000 people have so far signed a Friends of the Earth petition calling for a clean energy future.

3. A survey by GfK NOP for Friends of the Earth, published last week, shoewed more than 75 per cent think the Government's top energy investment priority should be either renewable energy or energy savings in homes, business and industry.

4. According to Government figures UK fossil fuel dependency was 91.4 per cent in 1990. In 2009 it was 89.2 per cent in 2009.

5. Earlier this week  the respected US Pew Environment Group revealed that last year the UK slumped from being third in the world in terms of investment in green growth to only 13th place.

6. The Chancellor announced measure in last week's Budget that will increase the UK's oil addiction. And by delaying the Green Investment Bank's borrowing powers the Treasury has robbed it of the potential to drive forward green investment.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust