24 May 2010 | Luca Del Buono
Carbon, Climate Change, Energy, Legislation, Europe

 

Currently the UK looks like it will fall short of the European renewable energy target for a 34 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. The national goal is to reach a target of an 80 per cent cut by 2050 based on 1990 levels. If government policies do not transform the way the UK plans to reduce emissions none of these goals will be met.

The first two carbon budgets up to 2017 will be met due to the recession and the subsequent reduction in industrial output. If this is the only reason targets are going to be met the UK government needs to reassess the situation as once the country pulls out of recession emissions will shoot back up. Paul Elkins, senior consultant at Cambridge Econometrics states that, "the challenge now is to ensure that the 2020 targets are met by policies that can cause emissions to fall substantially in a context of economic growth."

A report by the Cambridge Econometrics asserts that the economic downturn will help meet carbon budgets for the first two budget periods but not for the third period between 2018-22. The recession will help in the short term but the new coalition government needs to introduce firm policies to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy.

It has been suggested in the report that one reason the renewable energy target has not been met is because it is assumed that fossil fuel will still be relied upon to meet the UK's electrical needs. This is due to the decommissioning of most of the UK's nuclear and non-FGD coal-fired power stations. The role of renewable energy in all areas will be critical in order to meet the carbon budget targets. Effective policies need to be implemented by the government that require the increased use of renewables. Currently renewables make up seven per cent of the electricity supply, which is less than the targeted 10 per cent.

Although the government has put in place legislation that has helped cut emissions it hasn't gone far enough and without the recession the cuts would not be as progressive. As Ekins asserts "The outgoing Government is to be applauded for setting statutory carbon targets and budgets, but the new administration will need to appreciate the difference between setting targets and having firm policies in place that help to achieve them."

It is imperative that the new government takes the opportunity to act now on renewable energy policies and legislation to cut carbon emissions. Although emissions have dropped and the UK is close to hitting current targets this has a lot to do with the economic downturn rather than active efforts by the government.

 

Author: Rachael Bristow| Climate Action

Image: PhotoDu.de | Flickr

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