UK LAGS BEHIND IN FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING

4.33.57pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 22nd Jun 2005

Liberal Democrat MEP for the South East Sharon Bowles has slammed the Government's record on climate change as European Commission figures announced yesterday revealed the UK is one of the largest contributors to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions across the EU.

Under the Kyoto agreement the EU is supposed to make an 8% reduction on 1990 levels by the 2008-12 period. Overall emissions are so far down marginally but the new figures suggest that the trend is in the opposite direction with increase of 1.3% over the past year.

The UK joined with Italy and Finland as the top three polluters. Nationally more than 7 million extra tonnes were emitted between 2002 and 2003. Due to a reduction in coal use during the early 1990s the UK has still reduced emissions overall by 13.3% since 1990 against a target of -12.5% but the situation is now worsening.

Sharon Bowles commented: "These figures are very worrying and put in doubt the EU's commitment to fighting climate change. Instead of moving forward we seem to be stuck in reverse.

"With President Bush telling the world that the USA will make no changes to help, Europe must take a new lead."The concern is that complacency has set in. EU heads of government need to stop wringing their hands and start making tough choices."

With emissions from transport a major contributory factor the European Commission must introduce EU-wide legislation requiring car manufacturers to reduce greenhouse gases produced by new vehicles.

"Carbon dioxide emission levels from new vehicles average 164g/km and have scarcely fallen since 2000. On current trends the target is unlikely to be reached within three years.

"The introduction of a target of 120g/km by 2012 is still feasible without imposing undue expense upon either manufacturers or consumers. With every month's delay it will become more difficult to achieve. A binding legislative requirement needs to be placed upon the industry without delay."