After consultation with the Committee on Climate Change, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that we should aim to reduce our domestic carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
Speaking yesterday he said: “I know this means facing up to hard choices and tough decisions. That it means governing and not gimmickry. That is what we will do.”
The targets will see all new homes carbon neutral by 2016 and other measures such as the phasing out of traditional, high energy light bulbs 2011. There is also to be a service to Britain’s poorest communities offering energy efficiency improvements to homes.
Among other measures that will affect some homeowners is the announcement that renewable energy sources, such as wind farms, will be looked upon to provide a greater proportion of our energy requirements. Brown has announced that he put more pressure on communities to allow them to be built. To combat resistance it is has been suggested that financial incentives will be offered, such as cheaper energy.
Although a lot of dates and targets have been announced there has been little in the way of solid policy announced and for this Brown has attracted some criticism:
Green Party Principal Speaker Caroline Lucas MEP said yesterday: "Today's speech was sorely lacking in real measures to reduce our emissions. To make real headway on curbing them, we need to act now. We do not have time for yet more commissions and reviews, for more political delay.” |
