Friends of the Earth Warns EU Must Boost Renewable Energy

The UK Government must encouraged renewable power a great deal if the UK is to play its part in tackling climate change and meet EU targets for green energy, Friends of the Earth warned today. Despite having one of the best potentials for wind, wave and tidal power in Europe, Britain is almost at the bottom of EU renewable energy league table.

The environmental campaign group says the EU’s target for cutting emissions is too low. The group says that the suggested 20% cut in greenhouse gases by 2020 is in violation of the UN Climate agreement signed in Bali last month. The agreement in Bali stated that developed countries are required to reduce emissions by 25-40% by 2020 in order to avoid dangerous climate change.

And Britain’s current plans to develop renewable energy - outlined in the Government’s Energy Bill – are not sufficient to meet what is required to of its share of the EU renewable target.  The UK pledged to triple the amount of electricity generated from renewables by 2015.  Friends of the Earth maintains that this is less than half of what Britain should be targeting from the electricity sector if it is to meet its EU goal.

www.foe.co.uk