Is an 80% reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions by 2050 achievable?
It is a brave and ambitious target set by Ed Miliband, the newly appointed champion of climate change for the government. I’m sure he has had his ears bent by his brother David, who as Environment Secretary, was fighting this corner. Not so his successor Hilary Benn, unfortunately. Surely a target like this needs a strategy as its backbone, otherwise they are just empty words.
Realistically, I wonder how this ambitious figure, however well intentioned, is achievable as we do not currently have the technology to implement it. Have we invested in research which will take this plan forward? What about the coal-fired power stations lined up to provide our electricity which is not environmentally friendly?
And why hasn’t Miliband included aviation and shipping emissions in the 80% target; surely these are big beasts in the production of carbon emissions, so why give them what appears to be preferential treatment?
Although I keenly flag up my green credentials and applaud this action, I can also understand concerns expressed about how this legislature will affect cash stricken companies during our present credit crunch. It can only succeed by strict enforcement which will surely include financial penalties for those who fail to comply, and most likely the implementation of personal carbon credit. What seems unimaginable now will most likely become common practice in the next decade in order to achieve an 80% target as we are starting from a very low baseline.
Just remember, we are not expected to meet our 20% reduction by 2010 due entirely to the government’s lack of support. Miliband’s words are hollow unless he can convince us otherwise. And that means joined up thinking and working closely with scientists and technologists to provide alternative proven methods which will be achieve a sustainable reduction of carbon emissions.