UK Government to miss 2010 CO2 emission target
The UK Governments long awaited Climate Change Programme review project, presented by Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett, revealed that new and existing policies will deliver a cut of 15-18% by the end of the decade - not the 20% promised by the Labour Government in its last political manifesto.
In the foreword to the 220 page report, Prime Minister Tony Blair confirmed that the 20% cut in CO2 emissions is still the Government's official target, though this now clearly appears to be an aspiration rather than a firm target.
28th March 2006
carbon-info.org
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Carbon-info's chairman Flemming Bermann said that 'He was disappointed by the failure to make the 2010 target.' But continued by saying that 'whatever the UK reduces CO2 emissions by 15% or 20%, this will have no overall impact on global warming as the UK is only responsible for 2% of all greenhouse gas emissions. What we need is urgent international action to get China, India and the USA to cut back.'
Other UK environment organisations argued that the failure to meet
the target shows lack of willingness and political leadership to turn
the green rhetoric into domestic policies and actions that will actually
make a difference to the future of the planet.
Higher than expected
economic growth, together with economic circumstances favouring a
switch from gas to coal for generating electricity, are held to blame.
The
report highlights the sad fact that in the pursuit of economic growth,
the current measures to curb CO2 emissions simply can not keep up.
The rise in airline traffic and lack of individual action on energy
efficiency are just two of the many areas that are contributing to
rising CO2 emissions and preventing the UK from meeting its target.
