Porritt: Yearly targets would not help cut emissions

Tuesday, 13, Mar 2007 12:00

Jonathon Porritt, chairman of the UK sustainable development committee, has said annual targets to cut emissions would not help the country cut its carbon output.

The government today published the climate change bill which proposes a 60 per cent cut in emissions by 2050 and five year carbon budgets to outline reductions.

But opponents have called for yearly targets in emissions cuts.

Mr Porritt told BBC News 24: "As the government's independent advisors we actually advised the government that they shouldn't go for annual targets."

He said yearly targets were "a sort of macho breast beating thing but they don't necessarily improve delivery, they don't necessarily improve performance".

Weather and energy supply system changes could distort yearly targets but he said the government would report annually throughout each five year carbon budget.

Mr Porritt said he was pleased mainstream parties were competing to show off their green credentials and said it showed they were taking the problem seriously.