The Conservative Party’s ‘Low Carbon Report’ will help the UK move towards a low carbon economy said WWF-UK today. Innovative energy solutions contained within the paper could generate jobs and economic growth in the UK, but WWF is looking forward to more clearly defined targets from the party on reducing CO2 emissions.
The tories blueprint for a low carbon economy would aim to reduce the UK’s dependency on oil and gas by encouraging the use of tidal power and biogas, decarbonise the country’s industry and make us leading innovators of greener technologies. Meanwhile £1bn would be invested towards improving power distribution by the National Grid.
David Nussbaum, Chief Executive of WWF-UK says: “The Conservatives’
vision recognises that the drive towards a low carbon economy will be positive, not just for the environment, but for jobs and growth. We need an energy revolution and this paper contains some innovative ideas to help get us there. These proposals must now be integrated into plans to achieve the UK’s 2020 climate targets, especially given the Conservatives could be in government in 16 months or less.”
WWF, the conservation organisation, would like to see the Conservative Party preparing to meet Lord Turner’s recommendations for a 42 per cent greenhouse gas emission reduction target by 2020, as well as a firm plans to ensure that 15 per cent of energy comes from renewable sources by 2020. The proposals in this paper should now be fleshed out to meet this necessary level of ambition.
Keith Allott, Head of Climate Change, at WWF-UK says: “It is very encouraging that the Conservatives see no role for new coal power stations unless they have high levels of carbon capture from the outset.
WWF welcomes David Cameron’s pledge to overturn yesterday’s decision by the Government on Heathrow, and now calls on him to confirm another clear implication of this report, that he would overturn any decision by the Government to give the green light to a new unabated power station at Kingsnorth.”
