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Britain tries to block European targets for renewable energy

This article is more than 17 years old

Britain is trying to block new European rules that would set binding targets on renewable energy generation to tackle climate change, according to leaked papers.

The European commission wants to force member states to generate 20% of their energy by 2020 from green sources such as wind power and wood chip boilers. But Britain has argued against such a binding goal, saying countries need the "flexibility" to set their own targets.

Green campaigners said yesterday ministers were blocking the proposals because existing policies to deliver renewable energy would fail to get Britain anywhere near the 20% goal.

An industry source said Department of Trade and Industry officials had admitted at a meeting last month that current policies would see 4%-5% of UK energy produced from renewable sources by 2020.

Tony Juniper, head of Friends of the Earth, said: "If the UK government wants to be a world leader in tackling climate change it should be pushing for tough targets to cut emissions, not trying to water them down. Britain has enormous potential for developing renewable energy, which is a key solution for cutting emissions."

The proposed new EC directive, which has been opposed by several member states, will be discussed at a European council meeting of energy ministers on Thursday.

It comes as Tony Blair is pushing for a new international agreement to cut emissions based on binding targets. The directive would cover all energy used in transport, heating and electricity generation. Britain currently sets much looser domestic targets on renewable electricity generation and transport fuels only.

The UK's opposition comes in a formal position paper sent to the European council on energy. It says: "The UK fully agrees that increasing the use of renewables ... is important to meet climate and energy security objectives, but we are not convinced that a mandatory renewables target is the best way of achieving this; member states should have the flexibility to deliver their own energy mix."

The UK response, leaked to Friends of the Earth, backed other goals suggested by the commission. It says: "The UK believes the commission has got the overall thrust of the proposals right and that the strategic energy review should be welcomed."

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