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UK carbon budget shouldn't change, Ed Davey told UK carbon budget shouldn't change, Ed Davey told
(37 minutes later)
There is currently no justification for changing the UK's carbon reduction targets, the government's statutory advisers on climate change said on Thursday.There is currently no justification for changing the UK's carbon reduction targets, the government's statutory advisers on climate change said on Thursday.
The advice from the committee on climate change comes after George Osborne gained applause at the Tory party conference for vowing the UK would not be at the forefront of tackling climate change, and the environment secretary Owen Patterson suggested that global warming could be a boon, despite stark warnings from the world's leading climate scientists last week.The advice from the committee on climate change comes after George Osborne gained applause at the Tory party conference for vowing the UK would not be at the forefront of tackling climate change, and the environment secretary Owen Patterson suggested that global warming could be a boon, despite stark warnings from the world's leading climate scientists last week.
The UK's carbon budgets are increasingly a matter of political strife. The consensus that prevailed among the three main parties on climate change before the last election has been repeatedly broken down by the right-wing of the Conservatives, who see taking a sceptical stand on green issues as a key of appealing to the party's core voters.The UK's carbon budgets are increasingly a matter of political strife. The consensus that prevailed among the three main parties on climate change before the last election has been repeatedly broken down by the right-wing of the Conservatives, who see taking a sceptical stand on green issues as a key of appealing to the party's core voters.
Osborne has made no secret of his wish to loosen the UK's carbon budget.Osborne has made no secret of his wish to loosen the UK's carbon budget.
After David Cameron in 2011 personally approved a tough fourth carbon budgetn lasting to 2027, the chancellor secured a review of the target that will be carried out next year.After David Cameron in 2011 personally approved a tough fourth carbon budgetn lasting to 2027, the chancellor secured a review of the target that will be carried out next year.
But the preliminary conclusions of the review by the committee, published on Thursday, only take account of the UK's carbon budget with respect to the government's ambitions for Europe-wide emissions targets, and the current circumstances with regard to greenhouse gas output across the EU.But the preliminary conclusions of the review by the committee, published on Thursday, only take account of the UK's carbon budget with respect to the government's ambitions for Europe-wide emissions targets, and the current circumstances with regard to greenhouse gas output across the EU.
Ministers will have to wait until December for the committee's full report, which will examine in detail the full domestic and international context for emissions reduction, and make a recommendation on whether the budget targets should stay at current levels.Ministers will have to wait until December for the committee's full report, which will examine in detail the full domestic and international context for emissions reduction, and make a recommendation on whether the budget targets should stay at current levels.
"Changing the [carbon] budget would undermine already fragile [energy] investor confidence," David Kennedy, chief executive of the committee, told the Guardian."Changing the [carbon] budget would undermine already fragile [energy] investor confidence," David Kennedy, chief executive of the committee, told the Guardian.
Ministers could choose to ignore the advice of the committee, set up under the Climate Change Act, but to do so would provoke a major political row.Ministers could choose to ignore the advice of the committee, set up under the Climate Change Act, but to do so would provoke a major political row.
Many Tories would prefer to abolish the committee and repeal the act, but that would require a major revolt. Kennedy was in line to be appointed chief civil servant in charge of Decc, but this was vetoed personally by Cameron, for fear of howls of outrage from his backbenchers.Many Tories would prefer to abolish the committee and repeal the act, but that would require a major revolt. Kennedy was in line to be appointed chief civil servant in charge of Decc, but this was vetoed personally by Cameron, for fear of howls of outrage from his backbenchers.
Kennedy wrote to the Lib Dem energy secretary Ed Davey on Thursday to relay the committee's latest findings. He wrote: "The assumptions regarding EU circumstances upon which the fourth carbon budget decision was made have not changed, and therefore there is no legal or economic justification to change the budget in this respect at this time. Rather, the budget remains cost-effective, with manageable costs and impacts, given our assessment of EU developments."Kennedy wrote to the Lib Dem energy secretary Ed Davey on Thursday to relay the committee's latest findings. He wrote: "The assumptions regarding EU circumstances upon which the fourth carbon budget decision was made have not changed, and therefore there is no legal or economic justification to change the budget in this respect at this time. Rather, the budget remains cost-effective, with manageable costs and impacts, given our assessment of EU developments."
The government's official policy is to push in Brussels for the EU to adopt a tough new target of cutting emissions by 40% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels, and a target of 50% cuts if other countries outside the EU also up their efforts on climate change. Kennedy said: "Government should continue to push in the EU for an ambitious 2030 emissions target."The government's official policy is to push in Brussels for the EU to adopt a tough new target of cutting emissions by 40% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels, and a target of 50% cuts if other countries outside the EU also up their efforts on climate change. Kennedy said: "Government should continue to push in the EU for an ambitious 2030 emissions target."
When the committee asked stakeholders for their views, they said that clarity on the UK's position within the EU's negotiations should be a top priority.When the committee asked stakeholders for their views, they said that clarity on the UK's position within the EU's negotiations should be a top priority.
That is why the committee has published this part of its advice now, instead of waiting for its full assessment before the end of the year.That is why the committee has published this part of its advice now, instead of waiting for its full assessment before the end of the year.
Kennedy wrote: "Responses to our recent Call for Evidence have suggested the need to clarify at an early stage the implications of European circumstances for the budget, which we are now able to do."Kennedy wrote: "Responses to our recent Call for Evidence have suggested the need to clarify at an early stage the implications of European circumstances for the budget, which we are now able to do."
The letter said the carbon budget was consistent with the European commission's low-carbon roadmap, published in 2011, which identified cost-effective ways to cut carbon emissions.The letter said the carbon budget was consistent with the European commission's low-carbon roadmap, published in 2011, which identified cost-effective ways to cut carbon emissions.
The committee also found that the effects on competitiveness of sticking to the budget would be "limited and manageable."The committee also found that the effects on competitiveness of sticking to the budget would be "limited and manageable."
Manufacturers' organisation, the EEF, said the committee was wrong on the issue of competitiveness. Its head of climate and environment policy, Gareth Stace, said: "The rest of the EU has not followed our lead and we are still waiting on agreement of the EU 2030 climate package, which is uncertain and delayed. We would therefore question how the CCC can make an informed judgement now that the 2025 target will be in line with our EU and global competitors, when significant uncertainness remain."
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