Committee on Climate Change Calls UK Government to Stay on Course on Carbon Budget

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) launched a report today, in which it states clearly that there is no reason for the Government to reduce the Carbon Budget when it comes up for review in 2014, and that it needs to stay on course in the journey towards a decarbonised economy.

In its review of the Government’s Carbon Budget, which was last updated in 2011, the CCC said: “We conclude that there is no legal or economic case to loosen the budget.”

The report also concluded that the cost of decarbonising the UK power sector beyond 2020 would be relatively small compared to the uncertainty of not acting to do this.

RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive, Maf Smith, said: “The message from the CCC couldn’t be clearer. If the government is serious about protecting the consumer from future energy price hikes and reducing our carbon emissions then now is not the time to blink.

“With wind being such a crucial part of our future electricity mix, we really need the Government to take this message on board and stay the course in order to get us off our unhealthy addiction to dirty fossil fuels, and the volatile prices they bring.”

Press release, December 11, 2013; Image: Centrica