The Prime Minister must now “step in and prove” he wants to lead the greenest Government ever.

That’s the view of environmental group WWF and follows the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) letter released today highlighting concerns about the UK Government’s plans for more investment in gas.

The Committee warned this could breach the Climate Change Act and suggested the Government to include a decarbonisation target in the next draft Energy Bill.

Keith Allott (pictured), Head of Climate change at WWF-UK said the CCC’s intervention will be a “devastating blow” to those in the Government trying to “dash for gas”.

He added: “The Government faces some make or break decisions on whether it will undermine the Climate Change Act with a rash ‘dash for gas’ or promote the step-change in cutting carbon we know we need. With DECC and the Treasury at loggerheads on this, the Prime Minister needs to step in and prove he wants to lead the greenest government ever.”

The CCC’s concern follows Chancellor George Osborne’s comment earlier this year about gas playing a vital role in the UK’s energy mix.