On 17 May, after months of inter-cabinet wrangling, UK´s Energy & Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne announced that a 50% CO2 emissions cut averaged over the years 2023-2027 (compared to 1990 levels) would be passed into law, putting the UK on course to achieve at least 80% emissions cut by the middle of the century. This announcement was warmly praised by EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard...

UK´s Energy & Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne unveiled the UK´s fourth ´carbon budget´, which has been highered in line with the advice from the Committee on Climate Change. He argued that increasing UK´s emissions reduction target would place the British economy at the leading edge of a new global industrial transformation, and ensure low-carbon energy security and decarbonisation is achieved at least cost to the consumer. He added that "this will help us reach agreement in Europe on moving to a 30% emissions reduction target - and build momentum toward a legally binding global climate change deal". In order to minimise the costs of this transition to industries exposed to international competition (and, thus, to ´carbon leakage´), the British government repeats its call for an EU move to a 30% emissions reduction target by 2020, and for ambitious action in the 2020´s. However, while French and German Environment Ministers also called upon the EU to increase its emissions cutting pledge to 30%, other Member States such as Poland (which will take over the EU Presidency for the second half of 2011) strongly oppose such a move. The British government said it will review progress in EU Climate negotiations in 2014, and then decide whether to revise its budget to align it with the actual EU trajectory. It is worth reminding that in 2010, the UK´s emissions were 25% below 1990 levels.

UK´s Prime Minister David Cameron commented: “In the past twelve months, we have pursued an ambitious green agenda and today, we are announcing the next, historic step. By making this commitment, we will position the UK a leading player in the global low-carbon economy, creating significant new industries and jobs. The transition to a low-carbon economy is necessary, real, and global. By stepping up, showing leadership and competing with the world, the UK can prove that there need not be a tension between green and growth".  

 

Energy & Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne pointed out that "today’s 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." He further stressed that such emissions reduction would reduce the country´s oil dependency, increase its energy security and raise employment on the long-term. "Groundbreaking innovation will play a crucial role in helping Britain to decarbonise its energy supplies by 2027 in the most economical way", he went on.

"This is an outstanding example of strong willingness to act despite difficult economic times", Connie Hedegaard said in a statement. The UK's decision confirmed that clever climate policies improved energy security and economic growth, in the Commission's view.  "With this decision, the UK seizes a huge economic and innovation opportunity that will make its economy more competitive in the future", Hedegaard concluded.

Green group Friends of the Earth also welcomed the British government´s announcement, but underlined that "the inclusion of a get-out clause, in case Europe doesn't cut emissions fast enough, creates needless uncertainty that could dent business confidence".

As EU Observer noted, European businesses are currently split over the merits of a more ambitious EU target, with leading high-tech firms including Philips among those supporting a 30 percent cut in carbon emissions, while EU lobby group Business Europe has campaigned strongly against the move.