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| Owen Paterson in 'lights out' warning over emissions target | Owen Paterson in 'lights out' warning over emissions target |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The government's energy policy will "fail to keep the lights on", the former environment secretary is expected to say. | The government's energy policy will "fail to keep the lights on", the former environment secretary is expected to say. |
| Owen Paterson will also say climate change forecasts have been "consistently and wildly exaggerated". | Owen Paterson will also say climate change forecasts have been "consistently and wildly exaggerated". |
| The Conservative MP, replaced in July's ministerial reshuffle, will criticise "blind adhesion" to emissions targets. | The Conservative MP, replaced in July's ministerial reshuffle, will criticise "blind adhesion" to emissions targets. |
| The 2008 Climate Change Act aims to reduce the UK's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050. | The 2008 Climate Change Act aims to reduce the UK's greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050. |
| Last month Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK was "on track" to hit the target. | Last month Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK was "on track" to hit the target. |
| But in a speech to climate sceptic lobby group the Global Warming Policy Foundation, Mr Paterson will say the legally-binding target should be suspended and possibly repealed. | |
| "The 2050 target commits us to a huge expansion of electricity generation capacity, requiring vast investment," he is expected to say, adding that the "huge" costs would be unaffordable. | "The 2050 target commits us to a huge expansion of electricity generation capacity, requiring vast investment," he is expected to say, adding that the "huge" costs would be unaffordable. |
| "Even if it were forthcoming, the scale of the turbine-building programme required is so great that it could not be achieved." | "Even if it were forthcoming, the scale of the turbine-building programme required is so great that it could not be achieved." |
| The North Shropshire MP will instead propose the use of shale gas, combined heat and power plants, and "small modular nuclear reactors". | The North Shropshire MP will instead propose the use of shale gas, combined heat and power plants, and "small modular nuclear reactors". |
| Earlier this year, a UN report said the impacts of global warming were likely to be "severe, pervasive and irreversible". | Earlier this year, a UN report said the impacts of global warming were likely to be "severe, pervasive and irreversible". |
| Mr Paterson will say he agrees with "the main points of the greenhouse theory" but will add that the atmosphere has warmed "nothing like as fast as forecast". | Mr Paterson will say he agrees with "the main points of the greenhouse theory" but will add that the atmosphere has warmed "nothing like as fast as forecast". |
| The former minister had a number of clashes with environmental campaigners during his time in office, criticising what he called "the Green Blob" after his sacking. | The former minister had a number of clashes with environmental campaigners during his time in office, criticising what he called "the Green Blob" after his sacking. |
| When he was replaced by Liz Truss in the reshuffle, Friends of the Earth said Mr Paterson had been "the worst environment secretary the UK has had for decades". | When he was replaced by Liz Truss in the reshuffle, Friends of the Earth said Mr Paterson had been "the worst environment secretary the UK has had for decades". |