The Greenest Government ever

When the coalition came together last year, David Cameron said he wanted this to be the greenest government ever.  Winchester MP (and long-term member of Friends of the Earth) Steve Brine said this would be music to many ears. 

We are clear this is the right approach for Britain if we are to combat climate change, secure our energy supplies for the long-term and seize the economic opportunities that green industries hold. The global low-carbon race is well underway, with countries such as China, Korea and Brazil now serious competitors alongside Europe and the United States. This race will happen with or without us. This Government is determined Britain leads that race.

That's why, in the past twelve months, we have pursued an ambitious green agenda. That has included:

• The world's first incentive scheme for renewable heat, supported by £860m of public money;
• A new Green Deal to help insulate millions of homes in Britain;
• A £3 billion Green Investment Bank;
• £400 million of government support for ultra low emissions vehicles;
• Pioneering reforms to the UK's electricity market to encourage greater investment into low-carbon electricity plants and;
• A 10 per cent cut in carbon emissions across Whitehall.

On 17 May 2011 Ministers announced the next, historic step. The coalition has accepted an ambitious fourth carbon budget for the period 2023-2027. This commits our country to a fifty per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 (on 1990-levels) and keeps us on track to achieving an eighty per cent cut by 2050.

By making this commitment, we will position the UK as a leading player in the global low-carbon economy, creating significant new industries and jobs, especially in those sectors where we already enjoy huge advantages- such as offshore wind and marine technology. Earlier in May 2011 another major wind turbine manufacturer announced it was considering setting up a factory in the UK, bringing 2000 new jobs. This is a direct result of our ongoing low-carbon policy leadership.

However, a careful balance must be struck. While it is right to show global leadership, we must make sure we do it in a way that does not place undue stresses elsewhere in our economy. In particular, we need to make sure we do not damage our country's competitiveness. If we move too far ahead of other countries- especially those on our doorstep in Europe- in our climate and carbon policies, we risk putting some of our energy intensive industries at a disadvantage.

That's why, as part of the fourth carbon budget package, we offer the assurance that signing up to this will not impose any additional costs during this Parliament. We are confident that our existing policies, set out in the Coalition Agreement, put us well on track to meet our first three carbon budgets, and also provide us with a strong foundation to help us meet our fourth carbon budget.

In addition, we have announced two further safeguards.

1. We will review the progress of European climate target negotiations in 2014. If at that point our domestic commitments place us on a different trajectory than the Emissions Trading System trajectory agreed by the EU, we will, as appropriate, revise up our budget to align it with the actual EU trajectory. This will make sure no British businesses are placed at a disadvantage.
2. Before the end of the year we will be announcing a package of measures for energy intensive businesses whose international competitiveness is most affected by our energy and climate change policies.

Steve Brine says; "The transition to a low-carbon economy is necessary, real, and global. By stepping up, showing leadership and competing with the world, the UK can prove that there need not be a tension between green and growth. But at the same time we must get the pace of the transition right, with tight controls to ensure we do not get too far ahead of others. All the coalition's announcements in this regard are about achieving that balance."

Pictured; Steve Brine MP with leader and founder of (Hampshire based) The Greening Campaign Terena Plowright in Westminster recently.

More information ...

Watch David Cameron sign Britian's Government up to the 10:10 initiative in May 2010 here.

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