In response to the PM’s announcement for a legally binding net zero
emissions 2050 target, EAC Chair Mary CreaghMP said:
“I welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement, but it is too
little, too late from the person who got rid of the Department
for Energy and Climate Change, scrapped funding for solar panels,
home energy efficiency and hybrid electric vehicle grants.
“We now have just 11 years to avoid irreversible damage to our
water and food life support systems, decarbonise our economy and
stop dumping our plastic overseas.
“We need greener finance, greener fashion, greener cities, and
greener diets to meet that challenge for our children. Where is
the plan to achieve this?
MP, Chair of the Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee has
commented on the Prime Minister’s announcement that the UK is to
set a legally binding target to end its contribution to climate
change by 2050: “I’m pleased that the Government have adopted the
legislation on net zero which I introduced in Parliament. Strong,
early action on cutting carbon emissions is vital and will help
ensure the UK reaps the health, environmental, and business
benefits of achieving net zero. This puts the UK firmly at the
forefront of tackling climate change. However, this commitment
can only be the first step. The Government will now need to come
forward with the co-ordinated policies, actions, and regulations
needed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.”
On Tuesday 11th June, MP, Chair of the Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee presented a Bill
to Parliament which would commit the Government to reducing UK
carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.
Dr Doug Parr, Chief Scientist for Greenpeace UK,
said:
“This is a big moment for everyone in the climate movement and
particularly to the youth climate strikers, who rightly should
advise on future climate and environmental policy. Judging by the
headline, this is a legacy can be proud of. Judging by the
small print, this is a net zero target with a backstop. As the
birthplace of the industrial revolution, it is right that the UK
is the world's first major economy to commit to completely end
its contribution to climate change, but trying to shift the
burden to developing nations through International Carbon Credits
undermines that commitment. This type of offsetting has a history
of failure and is not, according the government’s climate
advisors, cost efficient.
“While the loopholes being woven into the legislation by the
Treasury will need to be unpicked, and the date moved forward,
this decision fires the starting gun for a fundamental
transformation of our economy. The Government must immediately
upgrade our electricity, construction, heating, agriculture and
transport systems. They must cancel the Heathrow 3rd runway and
road-building plans, and invest public money and provide
significant policy support to protect communities, workers and
the planet. It's now official – in a climate emergency, business
as usual is no longer an option.”
PM: We will end UK
contribution to climate change by 2050 (under embargo)
