Talking yesterday on BBC’s Newsnight, energy minister Malcolm Wicks confirmed the rumours that the government is to back away from Tony Blair’s pledge to source 20 per cent of our power from renewables by 2020. Instead, Wicks told the programme, it is looking to source between 10 to 15 per cent.
Wicks’ comments follow the publication on Monday by the Guardian of leaked government documents warning that 20 per cent is impractical, and apparently even suggesting that Britain should work with countries sceptical about climate change and persuade them to set lower renewable targets.
The leaked report, which according to the Guardian was prepared for Gordon Brown by secretary of state for business John Hutton reportedly estimated that increasing wind, wave and solar energy from the current UK level of two per cent to just nine per cent by 2020 would cost around £4bn.
What’s particularly depressing about all this is Wicks’ assertion on Newsnight that the 20 per cent level agreed in Brussels was a Europe wide target that doesn’t necessarily have to apply to individual member states: a pretty defeatist statement from the representative of a government that has previously stated its desire to take a position of leadership on climate change issues.
And although the government has disputed accusations that it is trying to wriggle out of its renewable energy commitments, the UK’s renewables industry will feel let down by the lack of ambition displayed by Wick’s comments.
Because whatever doubts the government may have about committing to an ambitious course of action that puts renewables at the top of the energy agenda, the UK engineers currently working in the sector are under little doubt that given the right backing they have the expertise to achieve these ambitious targets.
It is only by aiming high that we can make real progress in tackling climate change, and with over 12 years to go, Brown’s administration is already moving the goalposts.
Jon Excell, features editor
As a nation run by accountants always looking as the short term I am not surprised by this move by our government. As has been said before, all governments are essentially the same. Now we are at the back end of the “Dash for Gas” era where significant investment was placed in power from natural gas and the true cost is only just becoming apparent as we have to source gas from outside the UK to keep power stations running. Renewable energy is the obvious future. The long term investment and the NIMBY attitude to some of the proposed wind turbine sites seems to be putting off politicians. My own MP is actively campaigning against a local wind turbine initiative because of misguided information and a desire to keep his seat.
What is the point in the UK making any type of advances with regard to reducing CO2 emissions when the likes of China India and Russia are increasing their own? Excuse me, are they not resident on this planet?
I think it is just a money making exercise for some fat cat that has brainwashed this country.
Recycling is a classic. We segregate items each week and put them in our little PLASTIC bin for several vehicles to collect. The more we do the more PLASTIC bins we need.
These obviously come from a completely renewable and carbon neutral source. When are we going to get our heads out of the ground?
And yet again we will fail to deliver the engineering of major infrastructure because a group of beancounters couldn’t make a quick enough return on the investment. What’s more damaging is that as 2020 draws nearer, all eyes will turn to the engineers working in this sector, who will ultimately face the blame for not achieving targets, or be forced into finding ‘quick fix’ solutions that are ultimately more problematic and costly in the long run. Either way, our engineering reputation gets eroded whilst the financiers celebrate. Time for a career move?
We can blame accountants, nimbys,
the government, and many other groups for lack of progress, but we are the people that can make it happen. The Scots and Welsh have
assemblies with lots of power. Our local authorities can help with local renewable energy projects. My town is a TRANSITION TOWN. Yours can
be too. How about installing a wind or water turbine funded by public subscription, maybe a joint
venture with a local farmer. We can be world leaders and export our electricity when the OIL and Gas has become very expensive, and ultimately run out, in say 20 years.