The news comes ahead of the publication of a review of the government’s policy on climate change. The Labour Party committed itself to the 20% target in the mid-1990s, before it came into government. It is a separate pledge from its Kyoto commitment of a 12.5% reduction on 1990 levels by 2020, which the UK is set to accomplish.
UK media reports also suggest that, with publication of the review imminent, debate continues to rage in Whitehall between different government departments over what targets should be imposed for carbon emissions reduction in the years ahead. The department for trade and industry (DTI) is apparently worried about the impact that setting too strict a target could have on business.
It is thought that the review will advocate greater energy saving measures be adopted both by business and consumers. However environmentalists are likely to be disappointed by the government’s refusal to place stricter controls on the emissions generated by airlines and other transport services, mostly cars and lorries.
