UK 'must triple efforts to cut emissions'
The UK needs to triple its efforts towards cutting emissions and moving to a low-carbon economy by 2050, a report has warned.
The Climate Policy Tracker for the European Union by wildlife charity WWF and innovation company Ecofys reveals that EU countries on average are doing only a third of what is needed to cut emissions by between 80 per cent and 95 per cent by mid-century.
The report examines all EU countries on areas such as transport, buildings and renewables, giving them an overall grade of between A and G, and reveals the UK scores only an "E" rating.
The grade means the UK is doing only a third of what is necessary to put the economy on track towards massively slashing greenhouse gases by 2050.
While the country is awarded a "best in class" B rating for its Climate Change Act, which was the first legislation in the world to set legally binding long-term targets for cutting emissions, the report says the UK lags behind other countries in a number of its climate policies.
According to the report, the UK trails behind Germany, Denmark, Ireland and Sweden on the overall steps it is taking to cut its emissions and move to a low-carbon economy.
The four best countries receive only a D rating, meaning they still need to double their efforts to put them on track to cutting emissions by the amount needed.
360investgroup
source: ITN News. 23/11/2010
