UK green target on track
CHRIS Huhne, the minister for energy and climate change, yesterday insisted the UK was “on track” to beat its target to slash carbon emissions by more than a third by 2020.
Speaking before flying to South Africa for the latest round of climate talks, Huhne said the target would have been met even without the loss of demand for energy caused by the economic downturn.
Each person’s energy use could be halved by 2050 if the country optimises its energy mix and use of technology, he said, announcing the launch of the government’s “carbon plan”.
The government said we will use a mix of power from nuclear, renewables, and clean fossil fuels by 2050.
Labour has accused the government of shirking its green duties, after the chancellor this week unveiled a £250m package to soften the effects of the most onerous climate taxes on energy intensive firms.