By Chris Welby, Good Energy’s Commercial Director

One of the things trumpeted in the “not that Green” budget was that the government has accepted the recommendation of the Independent Committee on Climate Change to achieve a reduction of CO2 emissions against 1990 levels of 34% by 2020.

The UK government is the first country in the world to set its self legally binding targets on emission reduction, so well done the government, Yes? Erm,  No!

The Committee for Climate Change believes the UK needs to reduce its emissions by 42% by 2020, not 34%.  But, to give the UK some leverage in the next climate change negotiations, it will only commit to 42% if a global deal is reached.  If not, then we will only aim for 34%.

Now call me old fashioned, but I was brought up to do the right thing, not do the right thing only if everybody else does.  It also worries me.  Suppose a climate deal is reached, but it is next to worthless.  Does that mean the government will decide committing the UK to even the 34% is too much, if others refuse to pull their weight?

There is another point of course.  The target (whatever the levels) is legally binding on the government.  So the penalties on the government are….Zilch!  True, there is the bad publicity, but assuming there is at least one change of government in the next 10 years, then no doubt the one in power in 2020 will just blame the previous administrations for not doing enough in their term of office.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the target is a good focal point, but it is not a means in itself.  But a pat on the back for setting a target, which is less than what is needed?  Not from me.

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