Industrialised countries like the UK, which are most responsible for climate change and most able to help avert it, must lead the effort to reduce global emissions; they must cut their emissions first, fastest and most.
The most important cause of climate change globally is the burning of coal, yet the Government is planning a new generation of coal-fired power stations.
Accordingly we call on the Government to:
Regarding the demonstration of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology:
Quitting dirty coal is only part of the picture. In terms of the trajectory of total emissions cuts, the UK must:
If we are to meet this target then all sectors of the economy must play their full part. Substantial Government intervention in addition to tightly capped carbon markets, will be essential. We will require action by Government across transport, industry, the public sector and all other areas of the economy; every sector must play its part.
There must also be effective action to help UK communities and ecosystems adapt to, and become more resilient towards, climate change.
Addressing the supply of energy is only part of the picture; we must make sure we reduce our demand for energy in the first place and use it more wisely. In particular we call on the UK to:
The domestic and global economic downturn should not be seen as an obstacle to achieving a low carbon economy. In fact the plans that the UK has to inject billions of pounds into stimulating the economy should be seen as an unmissable opportunity to invest in a low carbon economy. Such a Green New Deal would not only help tackle climate change but would also generate hundreds of thousands of new jobs, and help switch the economy towards the renewable use, rather than the depletion, of the Earth’s natural resources.
To accelerate the financing of green infrastructure projects the Government must:
Finally, in evolving to a low carbon economy the UK must ensure a ‘just transition’ occurs for the workforce. As well as promoting green jobs this would involve investment in skills, training, social protection, and would entail a dialogue across all stakeholders.
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