Energy Secretary Chris Huhne today declared that the UK economy was on track to meet its carbon targets. He launched the Government’s Carbon Plan, which sets out the progress made towards cutting emissions by at least 80% on 1990 levels by 2050.
The plan suggests UK emissions have already been cut by more than 25% on 1990 levels and should exceed the 34% target set for the first 15 years under the Climate Change Act.
Speaking on the eve of his departure for the global climate summit at Durban, Mr Huhne said:
“Publishing the Carbon Plan sends two crucial messages. To the negotiators in Durban the Carbon Plan shows the UK is walking the walk… and living up to our promise to show climate leadership.
“To the public and businesses at home, rightly worried about the cost of living and state of the economy, the Carbon Plan shows that the gradual rebalancing of our economy away from carbon is achievable and, in the long run, highly desirable.”
His comments come in the same week that an emergency parliamentary committee grilled Energy Minister Greg Barker over a so-called “u-turn” on the solar power FiTs subsidy, while the Treasury unveiled a £250m package for energy intensive industries.
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