European Commission Launches Energy Plans To Tackle Climate Change, UK

Main Category: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 25 Jan 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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In response to the launch of European Commission proposals to deliver the European Council's commitments to fight climate change and promote renewable energy, Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society said:

"The European Commission has provided leadership in tackling the global problems of energy provision and climate change. Setting up a framework that encourages long term investment in low carbon energy production sends a clear signal not only to member states but also to the wider world. Extending the Emissions Trading System to cover sectors such as aviation is another step in the right direction.

"For the UK, even a 15% target for renewables by 2020 will be a real challenge, given our current level of around 2%. But it is one we must strive to meet. If we are to make real progress towards climate change mitigation we will not only need renewables, but also an effort to improve energy efficiency, and urgent development of carbon capture and storage technologies. To implement these policies requires substantial investment from both the public and private sector to build on the well intentioned words.

"The Commission has already recognised weaknesses in its biofuels target. The Royal Society has called on the Government to amend the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to include a greenhouse gas reduction target in the UK so that the genuine potential of biofuels can be realised."

Royal Society