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Miliband toughens UK emission targets
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor16.10.08
CLIMATE CHANGE Secretary Ed Miliband today committed Britain to much tougher pollution targets, pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
In his first Commons statement since being appointed to the new Department of Energy and Climate Change, Mr Miliband said legislation going through Parliament would be amended to include the new target. Until today, Britain was committed only to cutting its 1990 levels of emissions by 60 per cent. The new target is one of the toughest anti-pollution commitments in the world.
Mr Miliband also warned he would stop energy firms overcharging customers on pre-payment meters.
He unveiled plans to help people get higher tariffs for selling renewable energy back to the national grid.
In a move long-demanded by green groups, he said the Government would make the 80 per cent target binding by amending the Climate Change Bill.
"However, we all know that signing up to an 80 per cent cut by 2050 is the easy part. The hard part is meeting it," he said.
Ambitious EU climate change plans were in danger of collapse today in a searing row over the cost. Italy and Poland threatened to veto the policy for being too costly. Summit chairman Nicolas Sarkozy accused the pair of "hiding" behind the credit crunch.
Reader views (10)
So he's going to make the commitment "binding". So what will happen if the commitment isn't achieved? Will the Government of the day in 2050 dig him up, and put his corpse in gaol?
And just what are they on about with a "commitment" to do anything by 2050? Can you imagine a Government in 1908 committing to achieving something by 1950, or a Government in 1958 committing to achieving something by 2000? Of course not. Technology and circumstances will change so much in 42 years that any "commitments" are complete and utter (hopefully recyclable) rubbish. These people are beyond a joke.
- Sam, Basingstoke, England
Is little boy lost Willyband making a noise again. Where abouts is his dummy?
- Frank, Home Counties, England
Milibland the younger can say whatever he likes about reducing our CO2 emmissions; by the time 2050 comes around Global Warming will have been exposed as a politically expedient myth and both he and NuLabour will be nothing but a distant memory.
His comments and forecasts are completely irrelevant.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
I'm glad that at least the Govt is doing something. this is better than just talking about other countries - how polluted they are and what they should do. China and India are two examples. China has the highest CO2 emission in the world but in terms of emission per capita, Britain is 2-3 times more. Everyone should be responsible for the environment.
- Rachel, London, UK
Brussels tell the UK government what to do and we jump through hoops - shafted every time.
- Grim Reaper, UK
So how does he square this with building coal fired power stations and extending Heathrow/Stanstead? More cynical Labour spin. How can we force an election? Maybe we need to lobby the Queen...?
- Mark, London
Just what we need when we have the biggest market crash since the 30's.
- Jeremy E, London
when families are wondering how to pay bills, put food on the table and keep their jobs, the last thing we ned is environmental luvvies pushing unachievable and unworkable 'targets' - it is just another tax increase in disguise.
- Gary, wycombe
Read this in conjunction with adjacent story - ' Pollution Law Delay for Heathrow Expansion'. Mmmmmm, smell the cynicism from New Labour. Campbell, Mandelson, Blair/Brown F1 lies...!!! How much more do we have to put up with??
- Tom, london
Millipead can commit to anything he likes. The fact is that an 80% reduction isn't achievable and he and the rest of this corrupt bunch will be down the JobCentre in 18months time or less.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
