The United Kingdom has become the first nation in the world to adopt a legally binding emissions target beyond 2020, mandating a dramatic 50 percent cut in greenhouse gases from 1990 levels by 2025.
The welcome announcement from Britain’s conservative Coalition government comes as Australia falls further behind the clean energy trend. Politicians at home continue debating the best way to achieve just a 5 percent cut in emissions below 2000 levels in the same period: carbon tax or direct action – and in WA and NSW, cutbacks on solar energy feed-in tariff schemes and a premature reduction to the nation Solar Credits rebate put pressure on a transition to a green, clean economy.
Britain’s plan recognises the need to minimise transition costs to trade-exposed industries but does not shy away from the necessity of putting the nation’s economy at the “leading edge of a new global industrial transformation.”
UK Prime Minister David Cameron says the Fourth Carbon Budget has put the country on course for an 80 percent emissions cut by 2050 and will honour his government’s promise to become the “greenest ever.”
“When the coalition came together last year, we said we wanted this to be the greenest government ever. This is the right approach for Britain if we are to combat climate change, secure our energy supplies for the long-term and seize the economic opportunities that green industries hold.”
Already a dominant force in the European wind energy market, with vast offshore wind farms providing power to consumers, the UK also has a growing solar industry.. The Fourth Carbon Budget outlines further spending on wind turbine innovation, with plans to build turbines up to 90 metres in length – double that of standard blades – or, as the plan states, almost the height of Big Ben.
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne, says that Britain in 2027 will be a very different place to what it is today, with buildings and many vehicles powered by green electricity.
“By cutting emissions we’re also getting ourselves off the oil hook, making our energy supplies more secure and opening up opportunities for jobs in the new green industries of the future.”
