CBI urges Government to speed up pace of action on climate change

Tue 02 December 2008 View all news

The UK's leading business association, the CBI, has warned that the Government will not meet ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions unless it significantly accelerates the pace of action and brings in bold policies including strong tax incentives. The CBI said that the current recession was not a reason to slow down or halt efforts to tackle climate change.

The CBI's warning came as European leaders met in Poland to negotiate a landmark climate change deal.

On transport, the CBI expressed support for the Government’s drive to reduce emissions in cars, including support for electric vehicles and the push for an agreement on the sustainability criteria for biofuels. It comments on the lack of progress on the development of alternative fuels. It also calls for aviation and shipping to be included in the European Emissions Trading Scheme.

The CBI Director-General, Richard Lambert said: “We must not let the global economic crisis become an excuse for inaction on climate change. Now more than ever, we need to secure a binding EU climate change deal, or the opportunity to make the transition to a low-carbon economy will slip through our fingers.

“The Government’s commitment to reducing emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 is very ambitious and it has made a promising start with the creation of the new Department for Energy and Climate Change and the Planning Act. But we now need the Government to transform its ambition into action.

“If the Government can deliver the right framework for investment then UK businesses can take the initiative by developing and exploiting new green technologies to improve efficiency and cut costs.

“The sooner that happens, the closer we will be to creating significant numbers of green collar jobs, building future prosperity for the UK and meeting our climate change targets.”


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