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| Government to speed up UK climate change target | Government to speed up UK climate change target |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Radical new climate change commitments are to become law in the UK, Boris Johnson will announce this week. | |
| The prime minister will say carbon emissions will be cut by 78% by 2035 - almost 15 years earlier than previously planned - which would be a world-leading position. | The prime minister will say carbon emissions will be cut by 78% by 2035 - almost 15 years earlier than previously planned - which would be a world-leading position. |
| And for the first time the climate law would be extended to cover international aviation and shipping. | And for the first time the climate law would be extended to cover international aviation and shipping. |
| But Labour said the government had to match "rhetoric with reality". | |
| It urged Mr Johnson to treat "the climate emergency as the emergency it is" and show "greater ambition". | |
| China and US pledge climate change commitment | China and US pledge climate change commitment |
| World's wealthiest 'at heart of climate problem' | World's wealthiest 'at heart of climate problem' |
| Tax fliers and get rid of SUVs, government told | Tax fliers and get rid of SUVs, government told |
| Covid-19 paused climate emissions – but they're rising again | Covid-19 paused climate emissions – but they're rising again |
| The government has accepted the advice of its independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) to adopt the emissions cut, which is based on 1990 levels. | The government has accepted the advice of its independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) to adopt the emissions cut, which is based on 1990 levels. |
| The move comes as US President Joe Biden prepares to stage a climate summit from Washington. | The move comes as US President Joe Biden prepares to stage a climate summit from Washington. |
| For households the UK targets will lead to more electric cars, low-carbon heating, renewable electricity and, for many, cutting down on meat and dairy produce. | For households the UK targets will lead to more electric cars, low-carbon heating, renewable electricity and, for many, cutting down on meat and dairy produce. |
| Homes will need to be much better insulated, and people will be encouraged to drive less and walk and cycle more. Aviation is likely to become more expensive for frequent fliers. | Homes will need to be much better insulated, and people will be encouraged to drive less and walk and cycle more. Aviation is likely to become more expensive for frequent fliers. |
| Environmentalists welcomed the government's move, but warned that ministers had consistently failed to achieve previous CCC-set targets. | |
| And they insisted that Chancellor Rishi Sunak must show clearly how the transition is to be funded. | And they insisted that Chancellor Rishi Sunak must show clearly how the transition is to be funded. |
| 'Not on track' | 'Not on track' |
| "This is fantastic - very big news," Leo Murray of the climate charity Possible said. | |
| "The decision to include international aviation and shipping is a huge milestone, unprecedented, and shows clear global leadership," he added. | "The decision to include international aviation and shipping is a huge milestone, unprecedented, and shows clear global leadership," he added. |
| "But one thing you can't fault the government for is agreeing to targets on climate change. We're not on track to meet previous climate commitments and in many ways the government is still failing." | "But one thing you can't fault the government for is agreeing to targets on climate change. We're not on track to meet previous climate commitments and in many ways the government is still failing." |
| Mr Murray said ministers were "facing both directions at the same time", as they had scrapped the Green Homes Grant for insulating homes, had not stopped airport expansion and were "still pushing a £27bn roads budget". | Mr Murray said ministers were "facing both directions at the same time", as they had scrapped the Green Homes Grant for insulating homes, had not stopped airport expansion and were "still pushing a £27bn roads budget". |
| The CCC report accepted by the government says low-carbon investment must scale up to £50bn a year in the UK. But it adds that in time fuel savings from more efficient equipment will cancel out investment costs. | The CCC report accepted by the government says low-carbon investment must scale up to £50bn a year in the UK. But it adds that in time fuel savings from more efficient equipment will cancel out investment costs. |
| The CCC believes around 1% of GDP - national wealth - would need to be spent on shifting away from fossil fuels over 30 years. | The CCC believes around 1% of GDP - national wealth - would need to be spent on shifting away from fossil fuels over 30 years. |
| Its chairman, Lord Deben, said previously: "The implication of this path is clear: the utmost focus is required from government over the next 10 years. | Its chairman, Lord Deben, said previously: "The implication of this path is clear: the utmost focus is required from government over the next 10 years. |
| "If policy is not scaled up across every sector, if business is not encouraged to invest, if the people of the UK are not engaged in this challenge - the UK will not deliver Net Zero by 2050. The 2020s must be the decisive decade of progress and action." | "If policy is not scaled up across every sector, if business is not encouraged to invest, if the people of the UK are not engaged in this challenge - the UK will not deliver Net Zero by 2050. The 2020s must be the decisive decade of progress and action." |
| Net Zero means cutting emissions as far as possible, then capturing any emissions that cannot be prevented through tree-planting or engineering. | Net Zero means cutting emissions as far as possible, then capturing any emissions that cannot be prevented through tree-planting or engineering. |
| The government has adopted the new 2035 date for a 78% emissions cut because scientists said the previous target of an 80% cut by 2050 was not strict enough to achieve the aim of keeping global temperature rise close to 1.5C. | The government has adopted the new 2035 date for a 78% emissions cut because scientists said the previous target of an 80% cut by 2050 was not strict enough to achieve the aim of keeping global temperature rise close to 1.5C. |
| For Labour, shadow business secretary Ed Miliband said: "The character of this government on climate change is now clear: targets without delivery. | |
| "So while any strengthening of our targets is the right thing to do, the government can't be trusted to match rhetoric with reality." | |
| He added: "We need a government that treats the climate emergency as the emergency it is. That means greater ambition than this government matched with much more decisive action." | |
| North Sea | North Sea |
| A specific policy proposal for carbon cuts will be offered by 100 Nobel Laureates to the participants at President Biden's climate summit. | A specific policy proposal for carbon cuts will be offered by 100 Nobel Laureates to the participants at President Biden's climate summit. |
| It urges a carbon non-proliferation treaty similar to the nuclear arms treaty to prevent increasing use of coal, oil and gas by ending all new exploration and production. | It urges a carbon non-proliferation treaty similar to the nuclear arms treaty to prevent increasing use of coal, oil and gas by ending all new exploration and production. |
| This runs counter to the UK's plan to continue drilling to find gas and oil in the North Sea - to help the country's balance of payments and to support jobs in the sector. | This runs counter to the UK's plan to continue drilling to find gas and oil in the North Sea - to help the country's balance of payments and to support jobs in the sector. |
| It gives an indication of the scale of the task ahead to transform the economy. | It gives an indication of the scale of the task ahead to transform the economy. |
| Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin | Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin |