Monday 21 January 2008

WWF has enlisted the support of Britain's leading environmental scientists to call on the Government to commit to tougher carbon emission cuts in the UK Climate Change Bill. The Scottish Government has already committed to cutting Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions by the recommended 80% by 2050, placing it ahead of Westminster and keeping Scotland's target in line with scientific advice. WWF is urging the UK to follow Scotland's lead.

The current and two former Chairs of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (RCEP) have signed an open letter to the leaders of the main political parties - published in today's UK editions of the Times, Guardian, FT, Telegraph and Independent - stating that the government's emissions reduction target for CO2 is based on out-of-date science. Westminster's current target of a 60 per cent reduction in the UK's CO2 emissions by 2050 is based on a report by the RCEP published in 2000.

Current RCEP Chair, Sir John Lawton, and his predecessors, Sir Tom Blundell, chair at the time of the 2000 report and Sir John Houghton, together with Foreign Member of the US National Academy of Sciences Professor Norman Myers, argue that the latest science - including the Scientific Assessment Report of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change (IPCC) of February 2007, points to the need to cut the UK's CO2 emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050. The scientists have all signed in their personal capacity.

Sir John Houghton, the first Chair of Scientific Assessment for the IPCC, said: "The UK has always been proud of its leadership in the issue of climate change. To keep in the lead, the government needs to keep in step with the science that is now strongly pointing towards cuts in emissions of at least 80 per cent by 2050 if we are to mitigate against dangerous climate change. Furthermore there is convincing modelling to show that these cuts are achievable and affordable.

Dr Dan Barlow, Acting Director of WWF Scotland said: "This high-profile call by a very influential and respected group of scientists should put further pressure on the UK Government to follow Scotland's lead and commit to cutting climate emissions by 80% by 2050. Climate change is the biggest threat we face and politicians must take this on board and put it at the heart of their policy-making.

"In Scotland, with a consultation imminent on a Scottish Climate Bill, WWF Scotland will be campaigning to secure a robust bill that will tackle the serious threat climate changes poses to us all."

80% Challenge: Delivering a low carbon Britain2, a recent report published jointly by WWF-UK, ippr and the RSPB, found that it is technically feasible and affordable for the UK to cut its CO2 emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050 - including our share of emissions from international aviation and without using new nuclear power. Alternative solutions could lie in energy efficiency and a rapid roll out of renewable and decentralised energy, potentially combined with fossil fuel power stations equipped with working carbon capture and storage.

David Nussbaum, Chief Executive of WWF UK said: "The Government has a unique opportunity to set an example to the rest of the world by introducing groundbreaking legislation on climate change.

"Today some of Britain's most eminent climate and environmental scientists have added their voices to the growing calls for emission cuts based on the latest science - that means cuts of at least 80 per cent by 2050. All the science points to the need to put the 80 per cent target on the face of the Bill, which will also give business the long-term certainty they have called for to plan for a low carbon future."

WWF is also calling on the UK Government to include emissions from international aviation and shipping in the Climate Change Bill.