Emma's YouTube question answered

Emma's question

Gordon Brown's response

What WWF-UK thinks

Gordon used his response to Emma's question to talk about recent government targets to source 15% of UK energy from renewable sources by 2020 – a target that WWF fully supports.

However, WWF-UK would argue that if we meet these targets in full, and also agree to the EU's target of a 20% increase in energy efficiency, then the case for new coal-fired power stations in the UK evaporates.

The prime minister says that we need not worry about introducing new coal-fired power stations because the EU cap on emissions means that overall carbon emissions will be coming down over the next few decades.

This might be the case if the EU scheme was faultless, but it is currently too lax and runs the risk of failing to deliver anywhere near the reductions in emissions that scientists say are needed to tackle climate change.

The prime minister also mentioned that coal stations are more efficient than they used to be.

Whilst this is true, even new coal power is still by far the most polluting form of energy we have and coal power stations can last to up to 50 years. If we build them now, we will still be dependent on them at precisely the time we need to be totally decarbonising our power sector to meet the challenge of climate change.

That is why WWF-UK has been lobbying MPs to ensure the Energy Bill requires all new power stations to meet the 'California Standard'. This would set a simple cap on the amount of carbon any power station can emit per unit of electricity generated, regardless of the type of fuel used for generation.

Set at the right level it means that the only new coal stations which can be built in the UK are those with carbon capture and storage technology operating from the outset. You can support our efforts by calling on your MP to demand that a California-style emissions standard is included in the Energy Bill currently going through parliament.

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