Lib Dems ensure Britain leads fight against climate change – Don Foster MP

Commenting on the Coalition Government’s ambitious carbon budget announcement by Liberal Democrat Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne, Bath MP, Don Foster said:

“This is the most ambitious legally binding limit on carbon emissions set by any government in the world. It underlines the Coalition’s commitment to being the greenest government ever and puts Britain at the forefront of the global fight against climate change.

“The Liberal Democrats have been committed to protecting the environment since the party was formed and we are proud that we are now putting this commitment into practice.”

Commenting further, Chris Huhne said:

“This announcement will give investors the certainty they need to invest in clean energy. It puts Britain at the leading edge of a new global industrial transformation as well as making good our determination that this will be the greenest government ever.

“By cutting emissions we’re also getting ourselves off the oil hook, making our energy supplies more secure and opening up opportunities for jobs in the new green industries of the future.

“Under this carbon budget, Britain in 2027 will be a different place and transformed for the better with warmer homes powered by green energy, many more cars powered by electricity and far less reliance on fossil fuels to drive our economy.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Chris Huhne today (Tuesday) announced the level of the Government’s fourth carbon budget, as required under the Climate Change Act.

• In agreeing with the Climate Change Committee’s advice of a 50% cut in emissions the Government is putting the UK at the forefront of a new global industrial transformation.

• The UK will continue to press the EU to tighten emission reductions in 2020 to 30%, and will alter the UK budgets to reflect EU changes accordingly.

• There will be no immediate implications for household bills of today’s announcement, and the Government be looking at the impacts on some energy intensive industries: the Government will announce measures later in the year to help them manage the transformation.

• The Government is giving investors the certainty they need to commit the upfront construction costs for the green energy sources we need to replace our dirty coal and ageing nuclear power stations.

• The Government is reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, which are polluting, volatile in price and increasingly imported.

• The Government is making good on our determination that this will be the greenest government ever, and keeping us on track to cut emissions by 80% by 2050.