Failure to maintain and bolster government spending on green energy programmes could leave the UK struggling to catch up. This is the message being delivered by advisors to the government on climate change.
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has warned the government that it must defend against erosion of public spending on low-carbon initiatives, as well as increase the level of investment. The warning follows news that the government is to slash £34 million from spending on projects involved in offshore wind power, biofuels, and geothermal energy.
The CCC says other nations are spending considerably more on low-energy programmes and developing a low-energy economy is critical for the UK’s future economic health.
The Committee on Climate Change has responsibility for advising the British government about how to meet medium- and long-term targets for cutting the emission of greenhouse gases. An 80-per-cent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050 is foremost amongst these goals.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change last week announced its grant programmes are to be trimmed back as part of overall budget cuts in Whitehall. The CCC said such a development is moving in the wrong direction.
The committee highlighted six areas in which government support is critical. They are offshore wind, tidal and wave power; smart power grids; carbon dioxide capture and storage; cleaner aviation and electric vehicles.
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