Britain will miss climate change target

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Despite boasts by ministers that the country is leading the world in tackling global warming, secret Whitehall documents reveal there is little chance the UK will switch to 20 per cent wind, solar or hydro power by 2020.

Tony Blair signed up to the EU's renewable energy target when he was prime minister in March.

But the leaked document shows ministers believe taking a fifth of Britain's power from green sources is 'challenging'.

The paper, addressed to officials at the former Department of Trade and Industry, claimed, at best, the UK could achieve 9 per cent by 2020 - from the current level of 2 per cent.

Britain 'has achieved little so far on renewables', it adds.

Last night, Downing Street admitted the target was ambitious and would be a 'major challenge' to meet.

But Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said the Government was on course to meet its aim of generating 15 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2015.

"I am confident we will play our role in the European Union hitting that very, very demanding target," he added.

"We are committed on climate change, we are committed on renewables."

Tory energy spokesman Alan Duncan said: "This is a staggering revelation and shows the Government deliberately avoided admitting it wouldn't meet targets.

"They have been living a lie."