UK LAGS BEHIND IN FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 21st Jun 2005

London Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Sarah Ludford has slammed the Government's record on climate change as European Commission figures revealed the UK is one of the largest contributors to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions across the EU.

Under the Kyoto agreement the EU is supposed to make an 8% reduction on 1990 levels by the 2008-12 period. Overall emissions are so far down marginally but the new figures suggest that the trend is in the opposite direction with increase of 1.3% over the past year.

The UK joined with Italy and Finland as the top three polluters. Nationally more than 7 million extra tonnes were emitted between 2002 and 2003. Due to a reduction in coal use during the early 1990s the UK has still reduced emissions overall by 13.3% since 1990 against a target of -12.5% but the situation is now worsening.

Sarah Ludford commented:

"These figures are very worrying and put in doubt the EU's commitment to fighting climate change. Instead of moving forward we seem to be stuck in reverse.

"With President Bush telling the world that the USA will make no changes to help, Europe must take a new lead. The concern is that complacency has set in. EU heads of government need to stop wringing their hands and start making tough choices."

The Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament have called on Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas to introduce EU-wide legislation requiring car manufacturers to reduce greenhouse gases produced by new vehicles.

Last week Mr Dimas told MEPs that he was watching closely to see if the motor manufacturing industry complied with a voluntary agreement to reduce emissions. But European Liberal Democrat leader has urged him to work for a stricter target which is feasible without imposing undue expense upon either manufacturers or consumers.