‘Greenest government ever’ presides over emissions increase

There was an increase in the level of CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions in 2012, with UK net emissions of carbon dioxide 4.5 per cent higher than 2011, figures out today reveal.

The government presided over  an increase in the level of CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions in 2012, with UK net emissions of carbon dioxide 4.5 per cent higher than 2011, figures out today reveal.

In 2012, UK emissions of the six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol were also 3.5 per cent higher than in 2011.

The increase in CO2 emissions between 2011 and 2012 resulted “primarily from lower use of gas and greater use of coal for electricity generation at power stations, combined with an increase in residential gas use”, the statistical release said.

Greenpeace spokesperson Kathy Cumming told Left Foot Forward that the figures showed that the government was failing in its bid to shift the UK to a lower carbon economy.

“The two best things it could do in order to redeem itself are support Tim Yeo’s Energy Bill amendment which would remove carbon from the electricity sector by 2030, and put an end to coal burning.”

Mike Childs of Friends of the Earth said the introduction of a decarbonisation goal in the Energy Bill was “critical”.

“As is urgent action to cut emissions and fuel poverty through a comprehensive energy efficiency programme,” he said.

Earlier today Left Foot Forward revealed that the new energy minister Michael Fallon had last year questioned whether climate change targets were necessary.

So much for the greenest government ever.

3 Responses to “‘Greenest government ever’ presides over emissions increase”

  1. jac

    the EU had a directive that allowed our larger coal plants only to run for so many hours before being decommissioned. as gas prices have gone up, the coal plants have been rushing to use up those hours which is why emissions increased. we’d have been better leaving the coal plants and using them only for the few hours a year when peaking is necessary. now we have to dismantle them and build gas plants for peaking instead. the carbon emissions difference between gas and coal is negligible for just the few hours a year peaking plants are run. the cost of demolishing and rebuilding peaking plant is huge. more nutty top down stalinist style idiocy from the EU

  2. jac

    the EU had a directive that allowed our larger coal plants only to run for so many hours before being decommissioned. as gas prices have gone up, the coal plants have been rushing to use up those hours which is why emissions increased. we’d have been better leaving the coal plants and using them only for the few hours a year when peaking is necessary. now we have to dismantle them and build gas plants for peaking instead. the carbon emissions difference between gas and coal is negligible for just the few hours a year peaking plants are run. the cost of demolishing and rebuilding peaking plant is huge. more nutty top down stalinist style idiocy from the EU

  3. Leeds Solar

    actually the rush was mostly down to a carbon tax that osbourne decided to impose from this april, which meant it was more profitable for the coal plants to use up as many as possible of their remaining hours before the tax hit.

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