GREEN MEPS JEAN LAMBERT AND CAROLINE LUCAS UNVEIL NEW REPORT

UK FAILING TO IMPLEMENT EU ENVIRONMENT LAW

BLAIR’S PROMISES ON CLIMATE CHANGE ARE ‘SO MUCH HOT AIR’, SAY MEPs

THE UK has failed to fully implement EU laws designed to tackle climate change, according to a report published ahead of a meeting of EU environment ministers on Monday.

‘So much hot air’, published by the Association for the Conservation of Energy and commissioned by the Green Party group at the European Parliament, says the UK must use the remaining months of its EU presidency to adopt and strengthen relevant directives.

Caroline Lucas, Green Party MEP for South-East England and one of the report’s commissioners, said: “Tony Blair has repeatedly told us that tackling climate change is a priority for the UK’s presidency of the EU.

“But this report makes clear that he hasn’t even fully implemented the measures already adopted. It seems all his promises and fine words are little more than so much hot air.”

The report examines the UK response to five EU directives designed to reduce the CO2 emissions which are fueling climate change and an increased incidence of ‘freak’ weather events.

The UK has been slow to implement environmental directives – and has failed to promote bindings targets for reducing CO2 emissions throughout the first three months of its presidency.

Despite Tony Blair’s pledge to make tackling climate change a priority of his presidency of the EU, the UK has:

• Delayed implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

• Demanded an increase in the UK’s level of CO2 emissions permitted under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme

• Failed to set binding targets for energy demand reduction under the Energy services Directive

• Failed to promote small-scale combined heating and power plants in line with the Cogeneration directive

London Green MEP and joint report commissioner Jean Lambert said: “The UK has promised action on climate change and signally failed to deliver. How on earth does Tony Blair think he can exercise global leadership on tackling climate change when he won’t even implement those measures already agreed.

“The UK’s CO2 emissions are rising – and this report outlines some of the steps the Government can take immediately to stem the tide and cut CO2 emissions in line with our commitments under international law and its own targets.”

The report calls on the UK government to:

• Fully implement the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

• Promote challenging and binding targets for energy demand reduction under the Energy Services Directive

• Push for early review and strict improvements to the national allocations under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme

• Replace voluntary agreements for the Eco-design and End-use Products Directive with binding targets

• Set challenging and binding targets for the development of combined heat and power generation

• Promote the EU Energy Green Paper and the need to conserve energy

The report is published ahead of a meeting of EU environment ministers at the EU Environment Council on Monday.

 Dr Lucas added: “In short, I hope the ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday will take heed of this report and demand the UK takes action now to fully implement all relevant EU directives.”

ENDS

Note to Editors:

1. Copies of ‘So Much Hot Air’ s are available on request

For more information please contact Morwenna Holland tel 020 7407 6280 or 07813149812 email media@jeanlambertmep.org.uk