'GOVERNMENT STILL NOT GOT THE MESSAGE ON CLIMATE CHANGE'

Fiona Hall MEP <info@fionahall.org.uk>

'GOVERNMENT STILL NOT GOT THE MESSAGE ON CLIMATE CHANGE' - SAYS Fiona

November 10, 2007 12:00 AM

Fiona Hall MEP has accused the Government of failing to take on board the reality of climate change despite the effects already being suffered in the UK. Following the tidal surge and gale-force winds that have battered the Eastern coast of England in the past twenty-fours hours, the Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for the North East accused the Government of having a total lack of joined up thinking.

Ms Hall said:

"The Government has to take climate change more seriously, in deeds not just words. It must begin with setting and committing to meaningful targets on carbon emissions, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

"Yet the Government has backed away from setting significant targets on carbon emissions - 60% by 2050 is widely acknowledged to be inadequate. Ministers are currently trying to squirm out of agreed targets set for renewable energy.

"And on energy efficiency - perhaps the single most important measure - it was the UK government that insisted on a 1% per annum target until 2016 across the whole of Europe rather than the more ambitious 1.5%.

"Yet, they are quite prepared to build more nuclear reactors on the East coast of England despite the fact that several, including Hartlepool, are currently shut down on safety grounds and the Dungeness plant is requiring constant coastal protection as it is because of rising sea levels.

"The answer is not nuclear power. It is ambitious green energy targets and a commitment to achieve those targets as quickly as possible."