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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tougher climate target unveiled | Tougher climate target unveiled |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government has committed the UK to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by middle of this century. | The government has committed the UK to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by middle of this century. |
| Climate Change and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the current 60% target would be replaced by a higher goal. | |
| He told MPs the government would not "row back" on green issues in the light of the current economic crisis. | He told MPs the government would not "row back" on green issues in the light of the current economic crisis. |
| He also warned the big energy companies they face a crackdown on "unfair" pricing policies in his first statement as head of the new department. | |
| Mr Miliband told MPs the government accepted all the recommendations of the report from Lord Turner's Committee on Climate Change. | Mr Miliband told MPs the government accepted all the recommendations of the report from Lord Turner's Committee on Climate Change. |
| The target does not include aviation or shipping emissions - but Mr Miliband said they will "play a part" in the government's overall strategy, something he said was in line with Lord Turner's recommendations. | |
| 'Unjustified charges' | |
| He said: "In tough economic times, some people ask whether we should retreat from our climate change objectives. | |
| It's like telling everyone you're going on a calorie-controlled diet but not counting cream cakes Steve WebbLiberal Democrat | |
| "In our view it would be quite wrong to row back and those who say we should, misunderstand the relationship between the economic and environmental tasks we face." | |
| He said he wanted to achieve a cross-party consensus on climate change, but added: "We all know that signing up to an 80% cut in 2050, when most of us will not be around, is the easy part. | |
| "The hard part is meeting it - and meeting the milestones that will show we're on track." | |
| Mr Miliband also announced that the government was ready to legislate to force energy companies to introduce fairer pricing for customers with pre-payment meters if they would not do so voluntarily. | |
| Energy regulator Ofgem has warned that many households with pre-payment meters are being "overcharged", he told MPs. | |
| And the regulator has also highlighted "unjustified" higher charges being paid by four million electricity customers in areas which are not linked up to the gas mains. | |
| Wind turbines | |
| Mr Miliband said: "Unfair pricing which hits the most vulnerable hardest is completely unacceptable. | |
| "I made that clear to the representatives of the big six energy companies when I met them yesterday (Wednesday). | |
| "I also told them that the government expects rapid action or explanation to remedy any abuses and I will meet them again in a month to hear what they have done ... | |
| "If the companies don't act in a satisfactory way, then we will consult on legislation to prevent unfair pricing differentials ... There is more to do to protect consumers, and we will not hesitate to act." | |
| Mr Miliband also signalled new help to encourage small-scale electricity generation though technology such as home-based solar panels and wind turbines. | |
| 'Challenging' | |
| He told the Commons the Energy Bill would be amended to introduce a "feed-in tariff" to guarantee prices for micro-generation projects which are able to supply electricity to the national grid. | |
| In a letter to Mr Miliband, Lord Turner said the tougher target would be "challenging but feasible", and could be achieved at a cost of 1% to 2% of GDP in 2050. | |
| He also said a cut of 80% on 1990 levels by 2050 should cover all the major greenhouse gases - not just carbon dioxide - and all sectors of the UK economy, including shipping and aviation. | |
| But because of practical problems in allocating emissions of international transport to the UK, they should not be included in the Climate Change Bill's five yearly carbon budgets, he said. | |
| Instead the overall target should be "at least 80%", with greater reductions in sectors covered by the Bill if aviation and shipping did not make sufficient cuts by mid century, he said. | |
| But Lib Dem climate change and energy spokesman Steve Webb said Mr Miliband's decision not to include aviation and shipping in the 80% target made a mockery of his commitments. | |
| "It's like telling everyone you're going on a calorie-controlled diet but not counting cream cakes. | |
| "As we saw when the government gave the green light for Stansted expansion, there is a huge gap between what ministers say on climate change and what they actually do." | |
| Shadow climate change secretary Greg Clark, for the Conservatives, welcomed Mr Miliband's announcements. | |
| He said: "The choice between aggressive and ambitious action on carbon reduction and a successful, powerful economy is, in fact, not a choice at all - they are one and the same." |