Brown admits 60% carbon cut may be inadequate
With all the furore over Northern Rock and the loss of 25m people’s personal data, you may have missed a significant speech on climate change by the Prime Minister this week.
Like Tony Blair before him, Gordon Brown has never been accused of being particularly green. But, for the first time, he acknowledges that current targets may not be enough and says he will take soundings on a 80% cut in carbon emissions by 2050. He also affirmed a commitment to Europe’s target for 20% of energy to come from renewables – a pledge the Government had been trying to wriggle out of just a few months ago.
Apart from this, there was little to chew on – more carbon trading, more offshore wind, a home information service and various vague references to technology. In other words, plenty of commitment to action, without really saying what that action will be.
Oh, yes, for the headlines, he pledged to phase out single use plastic bags – well that will deliver 0.1% cut all on its own…