Government responds to Committee on Climate Change's first annual report
Sun 14 February 2010
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The Climate Secretary Ed Miliband says the Government will not be deflected by the economic recession from its efforts to cut carbon emissions. Miliband says Britain stands to gain from a 'green jobs revolution' and from the cost savings associated with efficiency measures.
Responding to the Committee on Climate Change's first annual report, Mr Miliband said that the Government will not rely on the reduction in emissions brought about by the economic downturn to meet its climate targets. To reinforce this, any over-achievement in the first carbon budget due to the recession will not be carried forward to allow for higher emissions in the future.
The Climate Change Secretary said that significant progress has already been made since the Low Carbon Transition Plan was published. In the transport area he said the key measures so far include:
Providing an incentive from 2011 to stimulate early markets in ultra-low carbon cars
Helping cities and regions put the necessary recharging infrastructure in place
Continuing to encourage the uptake of sustainable travel initiatives
Investing significantly in public transport
Supporting cycling with £140m over three years
The UK was the first country in the world to set legally binding carbon budgets under the Climate Change Act 2008, with the first three budgets requiring a 34% cut by 2020. The five-year budgets are intended to set the trajectory to the long-term target to reduce emissions by at least 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels.
The Committee on Climate Change was set up to advise the Government on climate change policy and to monitor progress against the targets set out in the Climate Change Act.
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