Coalition sets out ambitious emissions targets
July 30, 2010
Chris Huhne set out some ambitious climate change targets as part of his first Annual Energy Statement to the House of Commons.
He detailed a series of measures that are aimed at improving energy efficiency and use of renewables, as well as securing the UK's low carbon future.
These include rolling out smart meters and making some of the country's older building stock more efficient.
In addition, the energy and climate change secretary launched a new 2050 Calculator, which allows the public to explore the trade-offs needed to build a new 2050 energy system.
Mr Huhne stated that the UK is on track to cut its emissions by 34 percent by 2020 and suggested that even more could be achieved if the European Union were to be more ambitious.
"The era of cheap, abundant energy is over, we must find smart ways of making the energy we use go further, and value it for the costly resource it is, not taking it for granted. And even as we reduce overall demand for energy, we may need to meet a near doubling in demand for electricity, as we shift industry, transport and heating onto the grid," he said.
However, not everyone is so confident that the UK will meet its 2020 emissions targets. Last month, the independent Committee on Climate Change said that drastic action is needed if greenhouse gases are to drop significantly.
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