EAC Report Warns Government Against Backtracking on Green Policies

11 October 2011

The Environment Audit Committee (EAC) report says the Government still "doesn't get" climate change and has issued concerns over its "lack of transparency"

The report by the House of Common's Environment Audit Committee (EAC) on the UK's targets for cuts in carbon emissions concludes that there is a fundamental "inconsistency" in David Cameron's Government simultaneously committing to long-term reductions and to a "politically motivated" review of those reductions in 2014.

The EAC has said that "backtracking on the government's green promises now would be a big mistake" for both the climate and the economy.

The report stated: "We would expect a 'greenest Government ever' to accept all the recommendations made by the Committee on Climate Change, but it has not done so.

"The Government can be commended for setting the fourth carbon budget at a level recommended by the Committee on Climate Change, but it has rejected other recommendations that could help maintain downward pressure on emissions.

"However, we are concerned about the lack of transparency on how the Government's response to each of the Committee on Climate Change's recommendations was arrived at, and communicated."

The EAC report focuses on the carbon budget approved by the government in May, which commits the UK to cutting its emissions by 50 percent by 2025.

PM David Cameron overruled Chancellor George Osborne's objections to get the budget passed, but Osborne exacted two concessions: to have a review of the budget in 2014 (to ensure it was not harming UK competitiveness); and exemptions, rebates or grants would be given to heavy energy users to offset the impact of new emissions restrictions.

Ofgem calculates that £200bn of investment is needed over the next decade in the UK's creaking and dirty energy infrastructure.

Osborne came under fire last month (3 October) when he claimed environmental measures were harming some businesses. "We're not going to save the planet by putting our country out of business," he told the Conservative party conference.

"Osborne is a 20th century chancellor in a 21st century world who has totally failed to grasp the financial necessity of building a low-carbon future," commented Andy Atkins, director of Friends of the Earth. "I hope the prime minister has a better grasp of modern economics than his chancellor." Cameron pledged to lead the "greenest government ever" within days of taking office.

The Treasury has pledged £1bn of public funds to build the country's first commercial-scale demonstration of carbon capture and storage, but the only bidder for the contract is on the verge of pulling out.

It has also implemented a minimum price for carbon emissions, discouraging carbon-heavy energy generation, but give a bonus to existing nuclear power operators.

For the full report CLICK HERE

Darrel Moore