Govt welcomes EU climate targets
Wednesday, 23 January 2008 12:00 AM
The government has welcomed European targets for tackling climate change, hailing them as "ambitious proposals" that will shift Europe to a low carbon economy.
The European Commission has said greenhouse gases across Europe must be cut by 20 per cent by 2020, rising to 30 per cent if an international agreement on emissions can be agreed.
The targets place the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) at the heart of EU policy on climate change, with support for an EU-wide central cap on emissions.
At least 20 per cent of energy should come from renewable sources by 2020, the commission further states.
Today's targets also support the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS), with 12 CSS demonstration projects plans.
Different member states have been given separate targets to meet the overall goals.
The UK, which is currently a poor consumer of renewable energy, has been told to increase the proportion of green energy to 15 per cent by 2020.
Greenhouse gases from sectors not covered by the EU ETS must also be 16 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020.
Despite continued scepticism over biofuels, ten per cent of road transport fuel must come from renewables by 2020, although with the caveat this is a sustainable source.
Environment secretary Hilary Benn said the targets showed Europe is taking decisive action on climate change.
Mr Benn said: "This plan shows exactly what we are aiming for globally - a comprehensive and effective agreement to tackle climate change, with the carbon market at its heart. With a global deal, the EU will up its commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 30 per cent by 2020.
"More work must be done in a number of areas, including looking closely at the proposed UK contribution from the whole economy, rather than just the non-traded sector. The UK is determined to play its part in full, but we should ensure that there is collective effort from all member states to play their part in meeting the EU target."
As the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats questioned the UK's ability to achieve the necessary gains in renewable energy, business secretary John Hutton said it would review its strategy to meet renewables target.
But the Lib Dems said the government was overly focused on "grand energy schemes" that will take years to get up and running.
Lib Dem environment spokesman Steve Webb said ministers should focus on micro-generation and energy efficiency schemes, arguing this could lead to big reductions in emissions.
He urged the government to incentivise this through feed in tariffs, a proposal shared by the Conservatives.
Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth said such tariffs would help the UK face the "enormous mountain" it has to climb to reach EU targets.
He challenged ministers to focus on the "disparity" between their talk and failure to deliver, saying the UK is "wallowing" as the second worst country in the EU for renewable energy.
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