Lords: Emissions targets not enough

Wednesday, 6 July 2005 12:00 AM

The government's emphasis on setting targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions is unlikely to tackle the threat caused by global warming, peers are warning.

A report from the Lords economic affairs committee urges the government to reassess its policy towards cutting greenhouse gases, saying the focus on cutting emissions to tackle climate change is based on a "very debatable model of the energy-economic system".

It warns the public are not being made aware of the true cost of climate change control, partly because of the influence of political factors and not enough focus on economics.

"Perhaps one reason for this lack of emphasis is that the economic measures of damage give the impression that the benefits of warming control are smaller relative to the costs," it adds.

However, the Green party has slammed the report as "extraordinarily unhelpful contribution" to the debate about greenhouse gas emissions, saying it is "a kick in the teeth" for those urging action at this week's G8 summit in Gleneagles.

"The committee report says that focusing on emissions reductions is likely to fail - yet it is widely accepted that unless we dramatically reduce emissions, we will not be able to seriously address climate change," said Green MEP Caroline Lucas.

She added: "This report takes us ten steps backwards in terms of trying to deal with the climate crisis. It is scientifically flawed, economically illiterate and environmentally irresponsible, and should be treated with the contempt it deserves."

The Lord's report welcomes the government's lead in tackling the issue of climate change, saying that the current research available suggests climate change is a real problem that needs to be addressed.

However, it warns that the debate is being unduly influenced by political considerations, and not enough by economics of the issue - which has led to members of the public left unaware of how much cutting emissions would cost.

"The important issue is to wean the international negotiators away from excessive reliance on the 'targets and penalties' approach embodied in Kyoto," the report concludes.

"Hence there should be urgent progress towards thinking about wholly different, and more promising, approaches based on a careful analysis of the incentives that countries have to agree to any measures adopted."

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