Archived press release

UK lobbying to weaken 20% target at secret European meeting

13 October 2007

Environmental groups are calling upon the UK government to stand by its recent commitments on renewable energy and to support a framework that will not undermine Europe's progress on clean energy.

In a meeting organised by the President of the European Commission Jose Barroso tomorrow (Friday 12th October 2007), senior level civil servants and European Commission staff will discuss whether to weaken a European proposals to fight climate change.

In March of this year, Tony Blair signed up to a European target to source 20% of energy from renewable sources by 2020. In August, a leaked memo revealed that the UK government, despite its rhetoric on climate change, was lobbying to water down the targets. http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports_on_events/renewables_target.pdf

The concern is that their lobbying has been all too successful and that at the meeting agreements will be made to weaken the 20% target, particularly by moving towards a system of "mandatory trading" of renewable energy certificates between countries. Imposing this policy on all of Europe would bring an end to alternative approaches which have proved highly successful in countries such as Spain and Germany in bringing forward large scale renewables.

Friends of the Earth EWNI and WWF-UK have produced a rebuttal to the UK position (attached). Friends of the Earth and WWF-UK believe that the binding renewable energy target agreed by all Member States, including the UK, in March sets an ambitious but realistic benchmark against which the adequacy of domestic policies must now be measured. The two organisations are calling on the UK government to bring forward new and truly effective policies which will ensure delivery of the UK's fair share of the 20% target, rather than seeking to weaken the target.

Friends of the Earth Senior Energy and Climate Campaigner Robin Webster said

"Government talked a good talk on climate change - but it's vital that they demonstrate genuine leadership when it comes to delivery. The target is ambitious - but it's only by being brave that the government can really tackle climate change. The can't-do attitude to renewable energy is deeply worrying and a self-fulfilling prophecy"

WWF-UK Head of Climate Change Keith Allott said:

"The world is looking for true leadership on climate change and clean energy as we come up to the crunch UN Climate Summit in Bali in December. If the UK and EU are to show this leadership they need to demonstrate clearly that they mean business at home and this means delivering on their recent commitment to binding renewable targets."

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust