"80 per cent challenge" explodes myths of government inaction on emissions
Green Party Principal Speaker Caroline Lucas has yesterday [Nov 05] welcomed a report outlining the policy framework needed to radically reduce the UK's carbon emissions by 2050.
"80 per cent challenge. Delivering a low-carbon UK" outlines the measures necessary for the UK to achieve emissions reductions below the 1990 base line of at least 80 per cent by 2050.
The Green Party believes reductions in the region of 9 per cent year-on-year are neccessary for the UK to play it's part in staving off devastating climate change - adding up to a reduction in the region of 90 per cent by 2030.
Caroline said: "Today's report is a blue-print for a more sustainable future.
"'80 per cent challenge' explodes the many myths surrounding the government's continued failure to curb the UK's rising carbon emissions, laying out in detail the measures needed to achieve radical cuts in our emissons.
"The government claims that seriously curbing our emissions means damaging the economy, and that nuclear power has a crucial role to play in securing our energy future. Today's report shows this not to be true.
"The Green Party has long called for dramatic improvements in the UK's energy efficiency and massive investment in renewables technologies as a primary response to the twin threats of climate change and peak oil. I am delighted that the IPPR, RSBP, and WWF share the same position as the Green Party.
"All that remains to be seen is whether Brown is listening.
"The ever-rising tide of evidence that urgent and radical cuts to our emissions are not only achievable, but also cost-effective should form the basis of any targets cited in the revised Climate Change Bill - expected in the Queen's speech tomorrow.
"If we are to have any faith in the Prime Minister's desire and ability to lower our rising carbon emissions and so curb runaway climate change, he must revise upwards the current 50 per cent target to something in the region of 90 per cent by 2030.
"Today's report goes a long way towards showing us that - with the political will - such drastic cuts are achievable."
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