The UK’s Labour government, with its UK Low Carbon Transition Plan, is on something of an environmental offensive of late, and is making its commitment to environmental causes known in this, its last year in office before defending its position in a general election.
Reports that it may not meet its own defined goals for carbon emissions reduction then, will not serve to buoy the party’s spirits.
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), reported that even in the most successful areas, government had reached around half of its target. CO2 reductions in government offices were cut from 12.5% to 6.3%, and have proven the most successful aspect of the report.
It has left some questioning the level of commitment that the government has to environmental issues; the Environmental Audit Committee chairman stated that,
“The consistent thread is that the Government has talked a good game but when it comes to the actual achievements, the picture is rather more mixed… In too many areas, like emissions of carbon dioxide from offices, it [the Government] has made little or no progress and in others it is backsliding“.
Mr Yeo gave voice to a growing contingent of frustrated environmentalists who have suggested that the government is not practising in deeds what it has so often said in words; a claim that has frequently been the criticism of governments in the UK from Margaret Thatcher until now.
Yeo further commented that,
“What is clear is that, given there has only been a six per cent reduction over nine years, the chances of getting an 80 per cent reduction by 2050 would require a dramatic improvement. Our impression is that there is a very patchy approach across government. I have not seen any evidence that we have a change in the Government’s thinking yet. We need a strong commitment at the top to drive through a process of change“.
The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan, a scheme announced last week by Ed Miliband of the DECC, is the government’s answer to such criticisms. Having outlined a carbon emissions reduction in several areas, plus promoting a cultural change surrounding the use of energy, it is the government’s ‘ace in the hole’ in the lead up to the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit.
In light of such reports, it seems that there is clearly work to be done.
