UK 'needs step change' on climate

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Courtesy of bbc.co.uk

The Committee on Climate Change says emissions are falling at 0.5% per year, whereas 2-3% is needed to meet targets.

The government should intervene more in the electricity industry and set up a national home insulation plan, it says.

The government acknowledged the need for a "step change," and said it was "focusing on active steps" in energy.

The committee, chaired by Adair Turner, also wants more support for electric cars, a new scheme to encourage investment in clean coal technology and streamlined planning procedures for wind farms and nuclear reactors.

"What we have proposed is achievable and affordable," Lord Turner said.

"But action needs to be taken now if we are to make our contribution to tackling climate change."

The committee's conclusions are contained in its first annual progress reports to parliament.

Energy security

In July, the government unveiled its Low Carbon Transition Plan, a comprehensive set of policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions from industry, transport and consumers.

It also this year accepted "carbon budgets" - recommended by the committee - which are intended to take the country along a path to cutting emissions by 34% from 1990 levels by 2020 - with about half of the reduction coming from the power sector.

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carbon budget, energy, uk