UK business leaders from Unilever, Kingfisher, EDF Energy and Doosan are echoing calls for the government to introduce a 2030 decarbonisation target for the power sector.
In a letter to the Prime Minister David Cameron orchestrated by the Prince of Wales’s UK Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change, the chief executives of eight major companies call on the government to end the uncertainty surrounding the UK’s energy policy.
The executives, which hail from Anglian Water, Philips Electronics UK, Johnson Matthey and Heathrow Airport, call on the Prime Minister to adopt the recommendations of the Committee on Climate Change, including an individual target for the power sector to cut emissions and an overall 50% reduction by 2025.
The letter argues that “attempts to set a strong economy at odds with effective policies on climate change are self-defeating” and expresses concern over “ongoing divergence of views at the heart of government” over the future of the energy sector.
As well as ongoing support for the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), the signatories say that a positive signal is needed to drive low-carbon investment.
“Constructive UK leadership is vital to deliver action both at home in the UK, but also in encouraging others in Europe to deliver maximum ambition and a level playing field for UK businesses,” concludes the letter.
The sentiments echo a number of similar calls in recent months, including one from representatives of the renewables, carbon capture and storage, and nuclear industries and the influential Aldersgate Group.
For further information:
www.cpsl.cam.ac.uk/Business-Platforms/The-Prince-of-Wales-Corporate-Leaders-Group-on-Climate-Change/UK-CLG.aspx
Related stories:
UK business lobby group warns carbon trading is not driving investment (14-Nov)
Renewable, nuclear and CCS industries unite to call for UK decarbonisation target (5-Nov)
Market uncertainty leads to clean energy investment slump (10-Oct)
UK businesses calls for 2030 carbon target to unleash investment (8-Oct)
Article source: http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/5542/
