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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| EU's climate targets 'ambitious' | EU's climate targets 'ambitious' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Downing St has said its climate change targets are "ambitious" but it remains fully committed to renewable energy. | Downing St has said its climate change targets are "ambitious" but it remains fully committed to renewable energy. |
| It was responding to a report in the Guardian that officials had told ministers the UK would miss EU targets by a wide margin. | It was responding to a report in the Guardian that officials had told ministers the UK would miss EU targets by a wide margin. |
| Gordon Brown's official spokesman said: "It will be a major challenge not just for the UK but for the EU." | Gordon Brown's official spokesman said: "It will be a major challenge not just for the UK but for the EU." |
| Tony Blair signed up to the EU targets in March - before he resigned as prime minister in June. | Tony Blair signed up to the EU targets in March - before he resigned as prime minister in June. |
| The EU targets include a 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions, compared with 1990 levels, or 30% if other developed nations agree to take similar action. | The EU targets include a 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions, compared with 1990 levels, or 30% if other developed nations agree to take similar action. |
| 'On course' | 'On course' |
| They also include an increase in the use of renewable energy, to 20% of all energy consumed, and a 20% increase in energy efficiency. | They also include an increase in the use of renewable energy, to 20% of all energy consumed, and a 20% increase in energy efficiency. |
| Mr Brown's spokesman said the government's aims were "ambitious", but added that the UK was "on course to meet" its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, which it ratified in 2002. | Mr Brown's spokesman said the government's aims were "ambitious", but added that the UK was "on course to meet" its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, which it ratified in 2002. |
| He added: "It is now for the EU Commission to propose how EU-wide targets should be met by member states." | He added: "It is now for the EU Commission to propose how EU-wide targets should be met by member states." |
| However, the Guardian reported that it had seen an internal briefing paper for ministers from officials at the recently renamed Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. This reportedly said that, under current policies, it would be "challenging" for Britain to reach a target of 9% for energy renewables such as wind, solar or hydropower - well short of the EU's 2020 target of 20%, but up from the current 2%. | However, the Guardian reported that it had seen an internal briefing paper for ministers from officials at the recently renamed Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. This reportedly said that, under current policies, it would be "challenging" for Britain to reach a target of 9% for energy renewables such as wind, solar or hydropower - well short of the EU's 2020 target of 20%, but up from the current 2%. |
| According to the Guardian, the briefing paper said the UK had "achieved little so far on renewables". | |
| The officials suggested ministers lobby other countries to get a more flexible ways of reaching the targets, such as including nuclear power, the newspaper said. | The officials suggested ministers lobby other countries to get a more flexible ways of reaching the targets, such as including nuclear power, the newspaper said. |