UK FAILS TO AIM FOR GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN LOW-CARBON FUTURE

The Government's Energy Review, which has just been published, is a huge missed opportunity, says Friends of the Earth. FoE also warns that building new nuclear power plants would be “unsafe, uneconomic and unnecessary”.

Proposals to tackle rising emissions from supermarkets and the service sector, as well as action to make energy companies reduce emissions and energy consumption, were welcomed. But the report virtually ignored transport and the proposals it did make will make little or no change in the short to medium term.

Friends of the Earth director Tony Juniper said: “This Energy Review is a massive missed opportunity. It is not ambitious enough on energy efficiency and renewable power and practically ignores tackling emissions from the transport sector.

“It is clear that the Government priority is nuclear power. This is a huge mistake. Nuclear power is unsafe, uneconomic and unnecessary. We can tackle climate change and meet our energy needs through clean safe technologies. The UK is currently one of the Europe’s worst performers on renewable energy. The Government must aim to make the UK a world leader in developing a low-carbon economy.

“This Energy Review shows the need for a new climate change law that would require successive governments to deliver annual reductions on carbon dioxide emissions. Most MPs and three quarters of the public already back this call; the government must do so too.

“The disastrous economics of the nuclear industry means that UK taxpayers are already committed to paying tens of billions of pounds to clean up the mess created by half a century of nuclear power. Without massive public subsidies it is very doubtful that private sector companies will take the huge financial risks of building new nuclear reactors. To this extent it looks like the government is opening the door for new state handouts for nuclear.”

Source: Friends of the Earth Press Release