Ed Miliband has called on the UK Government to build momentum towards the next UN climate summit by enshrining a new net-zero emissions target for 2050. Theresa May yesterday evaded a question from Labour’s Shadow Energy Minister Alan Whitehead during Prime Minister’s Questions on whether such a target would be forthcoming, saying only that the UK was “leading the way in relation to dealing with the issue of climate change”. Speaking exclusively to edie today, Miliband expressed his dismay at the PM’s response, and urged the Government to set a precedent to other countries by introducing a net-zero target before December’s COP24 summit in Poland. Clean Growth Minister Perry announced in April that the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) would be instructed to provide formal advice to the Government on how the UK’s emissions targets should be adjusted to align with its commitments under the Paris Agreement. Experts claim that a net-zero target is needed to keep the world in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of a global temperature limited to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
Edie 21st June 2018 read more »
Energy and Clean Growth minister Claire Perry today signalled the need for ambitious climate policies from government in order to help drive the decarbonisation of the economy. Speaking at an event in London to mark the upcoming 10th anniversary of the 2008 Climate Change Act, the minister covered a range of topics, including praise for the UK’s international leadership on phasing out coal power, the “huge” potential of hydrogen as a low carbon fuel, and the need to bring forward policy support as soon as possible to back technologies that can bring about deep emissions cuts by 2050. However, in comments that are likely to anger environmental campaigners she also doubled down on the government’s support for developing a shale gas industry in the UK.
Business Green 21st June 2018 read more »
