22 April 2009
In the Budget today the UK government failed to deliver what is needed to keep up with the latest climate science and lead the way internationally to tackle climate change.
Today, as part of the budget announcement, the government declared its plans for setting limits on its emissions over the next 15 years: the first ‘carbon budgets’ were unveiled along with an emissions reduction target of 34 per cent to be reached by 2020.
Tearfund is disappointed with this announcement. It falls far short of what the latest science calls for – a 2020 emissions reduction target of 42 per cent on 1990 levels with the vast majority of cuts being made within the UK and not offset in developing countries.
‘While 34 per cent sounds ambitious and is ahead of many other developed countries, it is scientifically inadequate,’ says Tearfund's Climate Policy Adviser Sara Shaw.
Bad headline
‘If we adopt this, the UK risks lagging behind in transitioning to a low-carbon economy and will have to make much bigger cuts far faster after 2020.’
However, Tearfund is pleased the government has said that it will aim to achieve this target by emissions reductions at home, rather than by buying in cheap carbon credits from overseas.
This recognition that action must take place at home is extremely welcome.
This is not as black and white as it seems because about 45 per cent of the UK’s emissions fall within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme which includes developing country offset credits.
Good detail
Tearfund also welcomes the budget announcement of investment of £1.4bn in energy efficiency, offshore wind and green industries.
The announcement today is vitally important because countries are working to seal a new global deal on climate change this year at UN climate talks.
The UK must show leadership ahead of these climate talks to encourage other developed countries to take action and to build trust with developing countries, who are hit hardest by climate change.
The UK has set a strong 2050 emissions reduction target in the Climate Change Act.
It is important that early action is taken through a strong 2020 target. Taking early action to cut emissions reduces the potential climate impacts on poor and vulnerable communities.
The later action is taken, the more likelihood that we will exceed dangerous tipping points leading to increased climate disasters, water shortages and environmental refugees.
Read Tearfund's press release