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WWF-UK Response to the Queen's speech and announcement of an Energy Bill, 18th November 2009
Submitted by Kirsty.Clough on Thu, 21/01/2010 - 15:05
The Queen’s Speech today announced an Energy Bill that would allow the Government to raise money to fund carbon capture and storage demonstration projects.
David Norman, Director of Campaigns at WWF-UK said:
“Our main concern with this Bill is that it does nothing to prevent new large coal plants being built with only a small fraction of their emissions being captured. Without a guarantee of a legally-binding policy which limits CO2 emissions, the Bill gives the energy companies too much carrot and no stick. It must go further and include an Emissions Performance Standard"
“Last week the Government agreed that a ‘safety net’ policy would be required if carbon capture and storage doesn’t do the job or is too expensive. However, postponing a decision on this until 2018 leaves it too late to put an alternative plan into action. This would be a huge risk for investors and an even greater one for the climate.”
“The Committee on Climate Change has called for the UK power sector to be decarbonised by 2030, but a Bill containing only carbon capture and storage funding provisions cannot put us on track to achieve this. It doesn’t inspire confidence that the Government are heeding the Committee’s advice.”